Thando Maseko is a highly accomplished Mining Engineer with over 13 years of experience in the operational and technical aspects of mining. She earned her BSc (Hons) in Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2005, and obtained her Mine Manager’s Certificate in 2008 from the Department of Mineral Resources.

Thando co‑founded Inayo Mining in October 2017 with a clear vision: to create a genuinely transformed mining company driven by high business standards and a commitment to uplift previously marginalized communities . She was motivated by a concern that existing empowerment policies often favored a small subset of politically connected elites, rather than producing empowered black professionals who could make a real, meaningful impact.

Central to Thando’s leadership approach is a partnership‑based business model. By leveraging strategic collaborations, such as working relations with Sandton Plant Hire and Inala Mining. Inayo has been able to secure and execute significant contracts, build internal capacity, and eventually acquire assets, all while mitigating risk in the industry.

Under Thando’s leadership, Inayo offers turnkey mining solutions from topsoil stripping to rehabilitation, including plant hire and material handling. Their strongest growth has been in contract mining, which serves as the core of the business and has enabled the expansion of other service areas like plant hire.

Furthermore, Inayo operates on a scalable, asset-light model that adapts well to economic uncertainties, akin to business platforms like Airbnb or Uber. This flexibility has helped the company stay resilient even during disruptive times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thando is outspoken about the challenges women face in the mining industry, particularly due to its patriarchal structure. She observes that women are often “seen but not heard,” and also speaks to the typically harsh physical conditions that can disproportionately hinder female participation at operational level.

Despite these barriers, she credits Mrs Sindi Mabaso Koyana as a pivotal female mentor in her entrepreneurship journey, even as most of her industry mentors have been male.

Beyond her role at Inayo, Thando also serves as a Non‑Executive Director at both Overlooked Colliery and BRSW Consulting, showcasing her strategic insight and leadership within the industry.

You can vote for Thando Maseko HERE, Voting closes on 31 August 2025.