Nomvula Mahola

A South African activist fighting for women's rights and mining justice

Nomvula Mahola is a South African community organizer and activist whose work has profoundly impacted labor rights and environmental justice in the mining sector. Born in 1978 in Johannesburg, she grew up witnessing the devastating effects of gold mining on both workers and the environment. Her activism began in earnest after her brother died in a mine accident in 2002, prompting her to co-found the Mining Women's Commission to advocate for miners' rights.

Ms. Mahola pioneered legal strategies that forced mining companies to compensate victims of silicosis and tuberculosis, securing landmark court victories like the 2019 Khayelitsha High Court Ruling. She also led grassroots campaigns to clean up polluted water sources near mine sites, directly impacting over 500,000 residents. Her 2016 TED Talk The Mining Industry's Deadly Secret brought global attention to these issues.

In 2020, she established the Mining Justice Initiative, which trains women from mining communities to become paralegals. Her work has been featured in The Guardian and Al Jazeera documentaries. Despite receiving death threats, she continues to push for corporate accountability through her active social media presence.