Kumba takes a stand against GBV
16 October 2020
Anglo American is in support of the call to combat Gender Based Violence (GBV), not just in the workplace, but in our homes and communities as well. The company has taken a stand to educate employees and to talk openly about GBV to drive a message about its impact in people’s lives. Violence against women can be anything from physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, intimidation, harassment, stalking and even economic abuse (limiting the victim’s ability to support themselves).
In line with this, Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen and Kolomela mines coordinated and staged a demonstration aimed at depicting the impact of GBV on the victims as well as the perpetrators.
At Sishen, the demonstration, led by Women in Mining (WiM) and supported by local traffic officials and the South African Police Service, took place in the early morning on Wednesday 30 September. Women and men from the mine demonstrated with placards and costume make-up, showing bruises and marks caused by the abusers’ punches. This showed the trauma and the pain caused by the violence suffered by one out of every five women in South Africa.
At Kolomela, the silent protest was staged at the mine entrance to ensure that everyone entering the mine engages with this ugly reality. The aim was to start a conversation about GBV and to get everyone shocked into understanding the reality and the impact GBV has on everyone and the broader society.
The message from the Kumba leadership is that the company will not tolerate any incidents of GBV, whether it happens at work or at home. This includes bullying, harassment, victimisation and any form of violence by employees and service providers. “It is important for everyone, especially men to break the cycle and report incidents of GBV both at work and within the community as men are usually the perpetrators and the silent observers”, said Andrè Roux, General Manager for Sishen mine.
“The WiM structure is there to provide support to the company’s women and men to ensure that everyone at the mines is acknowledged for their role and the contribution they make towards the business. WiM has the potential to influence behaviours and will therefore continue to highlight societal ills and influence the broader society from within the mine”, concluded Roux.
“Every incident of abuse suffered by a child or a woman reflects our failure to respond to the cries of the most vulnerable members of our society. It is in our power and within our means, even in the smallest of ways, to contribute to the fight against GBV and save our women and children”, said Shinduvi Zitha, WiM Chairperson Sishen mine.
Gender Based Violence is a topic that requires everyone to take part in, employees, families, and communities. The demonstration contributed towards a dialogue for all employees at all levels as well as outside the mines. It is time for everyone to get the bigger picture about GBV and to contribute towards breaking the silence.
