Specialised mineral processing technologies provider Maelgwyn South Africa celebrates the women who make things happen.

Sazini Makamu

Ametallurgist at Maelgwyn South Africa, Makamu has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, a postgraduate diploma in industrial engineering, and a master's degree in extractive metallurgy. Makamu has been a technology devotee since a young age, with 13 years of experience in process mineralogy and metallurgical studies that are specifically focused on the retreatment of tailings containing gold, uranium and platinum group metals.

Her recent master's studies on the increase in gold extraction from historic Witwatersrand tailings and her work with artisanal miners in Barberton, in Mpumalanga, are among her flagship projects. "I am of the opinion that the rehabilitation of abandoned mines and dumps is a significant step in safeguarding the environment from the effects of mining." Makamu is also an active member of Women in Mining South Africa, where she has contributed to the development of the WiM-Chapter Toolkit.

Makamu has recently become a member of Maelgwyn South Africa and has been involved in numerous gold feasibility and bankable studies throughout Africa. "I believe that the work conducted in our laboratory is instrumental in guaranteeing that processing flowsheets are environmentally conscious, economical and efficient," she notes.

Epiphania Mariba

Holds a BEng (Hons) degree in Chemical Engineering as well as an MSc in Chemical Engineering from Wits University. Previous work experience gained at Empress Nickel Refinery, Anglo Research Laboratory as well as Vanchem Vanadium Process exposed her to hydrometallurgical processes for base metals leaching, as well as process development to improve existing processes. This experience has served Mariba well since joining Maelgwyn, as she seeks to assist customers solve problems they encounter in their operations, as well as in flow-sheet development for new projects. The push for tailings reclamation has also seen Mariba being involved in testing the best strategy for different tailings in different commodities including gold and vanadium. “Working in metallurgical testing has been exciting as no two days are the same, and the challenges we often face ensure we never get bored. The team spirit at Maelgwyn has shown me that a problem shared is a problem solved, as we conquer any problem we encounter through collaboration,” she says.

Sonestie Janse van Rensburg

Has always had a passion for laboratory, life and laughing. She holds a Master’s Degree in Biochemistry from Warwick University in the UK and completed a Master’s Degree course in Hydrometallurgy Engineering, presented by Dr Mike Nicol at the University of Cape Town. She is a registered Professional Natural Scientist and has 17 years of experience in laboratory projects with the last 12 years focussed on gold leach optimisation and gold-related environmental issues. She has travelled to mining sites for on-site projects and consultation with clients. “I really enjoy solving problems with actual experiments and laboratory tests. These days a lot of assumptions and modelling is done in our industry, but I still believe in firm experimental results to guide sometimes very expensive or strategic client decisions”. Over the past three years, Janse van Rensburg was the project lead on five large feasibility studies and has proudly managed the Maelgwyn Metallurgical Laboratory which completed more than 370 metallurgical projects. “It is easy to manage a team of people that are self-driven, mature and professional as part of the Maelgwyn team, and I am looking forward to the future at Maelgwyn and in our country, going from glory to glory!”

Sandi Gcanga

Graduated with a National Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the Tshwane University of Technology, and has been in the minerals processing industry for 15 years. She holds a Professional Project Management certificate from the PMI Institute and is currently completing her Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration at the Stellenbosch Business School. “Learning something new every day while helping our clients find solutions to improve their operations is what drives me and motivates me to wake up for work every day. Being in this industry has nurtured my inquisitive nature. I have watched the industry grow to be inclusive and supportive of women as we see more women in key positions in the various mining and related industries. This is what inspires me, as I make strides towards developing into a strategic role, with the view to marry this with my technical knowledge. I hope to inspire more young female engineers to persevere and remain in the industry by fostering a healthy work environment and providing mentorship and support. To you, I say, ‘Be curious until your last breath’,” says Gcanga.

Mutshidzi Singo
Has always been passionate about metallurgy, innovation and excellence. Starting with sifting stones and cooking imaginary pap from mud, this hobby trans- formed into a rewarding career. "I feel like I'm still playing in my backyard, but now I have sophisticated tools, and the out- comes are even more exciting."

Singo is the Project Metallurgist at Maelgwyn. She is currently pursuing an MEng in Extractive Metallurgy and has over five years of experience in on-site testwork, plant circuit profiling and optimisation, process control and project management. She holds a BTech in Extraction Metallurgy and is registered with ECSA as a Candidate Engineering Technologist. Her technical expertise includes Oxygen Uptake Rate (OUR) testing, cyanide destruction methods, analytical techniques and AachenTM technology evaluation. She presented a paper on the OUR testing method at the SAIMM YPC Conference in 2023 and participated in the cyanide destruction methods article presented and published at the World Gold 2023 conference.

Dedicated to inspiring women in the industry, Singo says, "I learned with courage and confidence that results define my talents, not gender. Young girls should invest in themselves, so gender doesn't influence their future."