Effective stakeholder engagement goes beyond formal meetings and consultation. It requires listening, building trust, understanding different perspectives and creating space for constructive dialogue. In her role as Executive Director and Head of Corporate Affairs at West Wits Mining, Tozama Kulati Siwisa engaged with Phillip Vilakazi, President of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). The meeting provided an important opportunity to strengthen the relationship between management and organised labour and to reaffirm the value of constructive engagement.
For Tozama, meaningful stakeholder engagement means building relationships that allow people to work towards practical solutions. This is particularly important in the mining industry, where an operation’s sustainability is closely connected to its people, organised labour and government.
The discussion focused on matters affecting employees, workplace stability and the importance of continued cooperation between management and labour structures. It also explored shared priorities, including employee wellbeing, health and safety, skills development and socio-economic progress.
Tozama believes that strong stakeholder relationships are built consistently over time. They require transparency and a willingness to engage even when conversations are difficult. Constructive dialogue builds understanding and provides a foundation for addressing challenges collaboratively.
Tozama’s approach to stakeholder engagement is grounded in a simple principle: listen first, understand different perspectives, and look for opportunities to build common ground.
“Strong partnerships are built through conversation, understanding and a shared commitment to progress. Engagement is not simply about communicating with stakeholders, it is about creating relationships that enable us to move forward together.”
