There is a new player in the drilling and blasting game in southern Africa following the formation of NTC Drilling and Blasting, a 100% Black, Female-Owned drilling and blasting contractor. Targeting quarries and opencast mines in South Africa and the southern African region at large, the company goes beyond the bench, offering a full suite of specialised opencast mining services, including land clearing and mine stripping, drilling and blasting, secondary breaking, load and haul operations, as well as quarry rehabilitation.
At the helm of the newly formed company, which opened its doors in January 2025, is MD Nomthandazo Gumede, who brings a wealth of experience in the mining sector. Affectionately known as ‘Nomthi’ in the industry circles, she has 15 years of experience across various roles in surface mines and quarries.
Gumede’s career began in 2008 at AfriSam as a production plant operator, where she was responsible for overseeing and controlling machinery and production processes. Over the next six years, she took on various production roles at the leading construction materials supplier, while sharpening her craft in drilling and blasting.
At the time she left AfriSam in 2014, she had already assumed the role of trainee superintendent, having earned her blasting licences and certifications. She then joined Lafarge (now Afrimat) as a quarry blaster, where she spent six years, executing blasting operations across all of the company’s sites in KwaZulu-Natal.
In December 2019, she took a career break to focus on family responsibilities before returning to the mining industry in January 2021 as a mine manager at Matsopa Minerals in the Eastern Cape, a role she held for a year. Following another year-long career break, she joined Brauteseth Blasting in 2023, a leading drilling and blasting company, where she worked until the end of 2024, before deciding to take the entrepreneurial route, leading to the formation of NTC Drilling and Blasting.
She tells Quarrying Africa that her time at Brauteseth Blasting was a valuable learning experience, which equipped her with the necessary capacity to establish her own drilling and blasting company in 2025.
Competitive edge
Commenting on the decision to establish the company, she says: “I believe the desire to start my own business was driven by a sense of having reached a career ceiling. I wanted a more challenging opportunity – one that would allow me to fully utilise my experience in mining. I also felt a strong need to challenge the status quo and break traditional boundaries by fostering greater diversity, driving innovation, and ultimately setting new, higher standards of excellence in industry practices.”
Gumede believes that the company’s competitive edge lies in the operational expertise of the whole team, from the founder to the executive team and the highly-skilled operational staff. “We prioritise human resources, fostering a skilled and dedicated team that is equipped to tackle the most complex challenges in opencast mining operations. That drives our success and ensures the highest standards of service,” she says.
The company’s commitment to production efficiency, she adds, enables it to offer highly-competitive service rates without compromising on quality. “The combination of experience, commitment to people and efficient operations makes us the ideal partner for mining and quarrying needs,” Gumede explains.
Ramping up
While the company has not secured any contracts yet, it has over the past two months focused its efforts on extensive engagements with potential clients across all the markets that it is targeting. These discussions, she says, are in their final stages and Nomthi is optimistic that the company will be able to announce new projects soon.
On the capital equipment front, the company has already secured the necessary gear to execute projects. To date, the drilling fleet comprises premium top hammer hydraulic rigs, the Pantera DP1500i and the Ranger DX800 from Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.
The Sandvik machines, she says, were chosen for their versatility, making them well-suited for both mining and quarrying operations. Additionally, the NTC team has extensive experience with these machines. She also highlights Sandvik’s reputation for reliability, which further reinforced the decision.
In addition, NTC Drilling and Blasting makes use of hydraulic hammers from Epiroc for secondary rock breaking operations. According to Gumede, Epiroc hydraulic hammers are a popular choice for rock breaking in mining due to their high efficiency, durability and adaptability to various tasks and carrier types. They offer a robust, reliable solution for tough jobs, with features such as the Solid Body concept and maintenance-free accumulators that ensure consistent performance and extended lifespan.
Not without challenges
While the building blocks are in place, Gumede points out some of the challenges associated with setting up a business of this nature. “One of the biggest challenges we have faced as entrepreneurs in this sector is the high barrier to entry. Establishing an opencast mining services company requires significant capital investment, as the equipment is extremely expensive,” she says.
Beyond the financial hurdles, adds Gumede, the conservative nature of clients in this industry presents another major challenge. Many operations are said to prefer to work with long-established ‘legacy’ companies, making it difficult for new entrants to secure contracts. “Because of this, we have had to work hard in our engagements with potential clients to prove beyond doubt that we can deliver,” explains Gumede.
Fortunately, she adds, the extensive experience of the team members has played a key role in demonstrating that the company is not only just as capable as legacy companies but, in many cases, it is better positioned to bring fresh, innovative approaches to the industry.
Supporting entrepreneurs
Commenting on what can be done to support young companies of this nature to find their feet in such a competitive market, Gumede says there are already several funding and development initiatives in place, but she believes that these could be more effective. For example, she says, while various funding options exist, the application and disbursement processes often take too long.
“Fast-tracking approvals and fund delivery would make a significant difference. Additionally, industry leaders and major clients can play a crucial role by actively embracing and supporting new entrants, creating a more inclusive and competitive industry landscape,” she says.
Despite these challenges, she hopes that her journey with NTC Drilling and Blasting serves as testament to the capabilities and impact that women can make in the mining industry.
“At NTC Drilling and Blasting, we are excited about the future and the many opportunities that lie ahead, both in South Africa and across the continent. Through our work, we are committed to driving Africa’s growth and creating lasting value for our clients, communities and partners,” concludes Gumede.
