In-house training and development has always been a top priority for CPM, and one of our strategic core objectives is to empower our own staff rather than recruiting from outside the fold. This has consistently proven to be worth its weight in gold, if you’ll excuse the pun!
The all-female leadership team in our refinery’s laboratory is one such success story that we are truly proud of.
Bridgette was the first of our ladies to don acid-resistant overalls and take on the challenge of learning the refining process. In fact, by our reckoning she must have been the first female refiner in South Africa! She’s a fast learner, and quickly mastered all aspects of our laboratory processes. She’s proven herself to be a dedicated employee of now over 15 years, with her meticulous ways and enthusiasm in the lab winning her the position of Team Leader. Her competence impressed us so much that we decided to only appoint women to leadership roles within the laboratory, which has worked out even better than we expected! Zelpha was the next to prove herself worthy, followed by Agnes (both of whom were initially part of our housekeeping team).
They have all truly mastered their craft of turning scrap metal into its purest form, and have shown excellence in the quality, speed and efficiency of their work. As demand for our Gold, Platinum and Palladium grew (no doubt attributable in part to the proficiency of our lab ladies!) we have happily increased our team. Recently we have welcomed Laura and Siya to our silver plant division, where they are in charge of the crucial process of chloriding the material in preparation for silver precipitation. Our production control is ably prepared by another female superstar, Dolly, who ensures that the capturing and assaying of all daily jobs are correctly recorded with weights and expected yields, together with all elements present in the material.
Our lab team runs like clockwork, and special mention must be made of the five men who have embraced gender equality in this male-dominated industry, and who work shoulder to shoulder with our female achievers under Bridgette’s gentle leadership.
Overseeing the whole gang is Jolandie, who joined us 17 years ago in the accounts division. She is now not only our General Manager, but also manages all operations relating to precious metal trading and processing.
Owners Sharon and Olga are deeply proud of all CPM staff achievements, but particularly so when marginalised members of South Africa’s deeply unequal society are given the chance to shine as brightly as they do.
As manufacturers of highest-purity, ethically sourced metals, we are constantly reminded that there really is nothing more precious than our people.
