Middelburg– Born and raised in Arnot Mine, Monica Kholiwe Ngwenya grew up surrounded by mining life. The daughter of a miner, she was drawn to the industry from a young age. “When I was in high school, I wanted to be an artisan because I admired how miners drove big, beautiful cars,” she recalls.
Her journey began at Middelburg Technical College, where she studied electrical engineering. While still a student, she secured a position at Anglo Bank Colliery as an engineering helper. It was a role she believed would put her on the path to becoming an artisan, instead, it opened the door to a career in mining.
In February 2000, Ngwenya’s career path shifted when she became a mining planner, working alongside miners and overseers. “Sometimes I even went underground with them, and that’s when I knew I wanted to be in mining,” she says.
Her determination earned her a learnership as the first female learner miner at Bank Colliery, a groundbreaking step at the time. In 2005, she qualified as a section miner, breaking barriers in a field dominated by men.
Ngwenya pressed on despite concerns from her mother and siblings, who feared for her wellbeing in such a tough industry. Their fears proved justified: as a trainee, she endured long shifts without proper facilities for women, a strain that led to kidney complications. Yet her persistence paid off, she successfully pushed the mine to introduce proper underground toilets which was a change that benefitted all employees.
Her experience underground was far from easy. She was undermined, humiliated, and often deliberately sidelined. Shifts were sometimes changed without warning, a move she believed was aimed at discouraging her. Refusing to give in, she wrote to senior management demanding fair treatment. Her bravery not only protected her but also paved the way for other women in mining.
Ngwenya later joined Zibulo Colliery, also under Anglo American, as a mine overseer. It was during this period that she began envisioning her own company, noting the scarcity of female contractors in the sector.
In 2013, she launched EntleArolo Trading, a company that supplies mining and industrial equipment, tools, corporate clothing, while also specialising in mining rehabilitation, dam construction, crushing and screening. Her first major breakthrough came with securing a contract with Eskom.
“I am competing with companies that have been in the industry for decades. Some still undermine me because I’m a woman, but my experience and portfolio set me apart,” she says.
EntleArolo distinguishes itself by its commitment to innovation, collaboration, and community development. The company hires locals for projects, trains young people through internships and empowers subcontractors by ensuring they retain equipment after project completion to build their capacity.
For young women aspiring to enter mining, Ngwenya says: “Do not be too soft, otherwise people will walk all over you. Be patient, market yourself well, and stay focused.”
Looking back, Ngwenya is proud not only of her business achievements but also of the legacy she is building. “I want to be remembered as someone who proved that nothing is impossible. If you put in the work and remain positive, you can achieve anything.”
