Always on the winning team
Frengelina Mabotja leads screening solutions sales across Africa, combining her background as a metallurgist in the South African mining industry with a strong focus on customer relationships. Her role demands quick thinking, strategy, and teamwork – much like the netball she plays in her spare time.
Growing up in northern South Africa, Frengelina Mabotja became curious about the mining industry around her at an early age. She was particularly interested in how valuable minerals like gold and diamonds are extracted from rock. “I’ve always had an inquisitive mind,” she says.
That curiosity led her to study metallurgy at university and, after graduating, she began her career as a metallurgist at an iron ore mine. After gaining experience in mineral processing, Mabotja’s career took a surprising turn when a former university professor offered her a role at a mining equipment manufacturer. The move opened the door to a new side of the industry – one focused on customer engagement and commercial strategy.
Understanding mining customers across Africa
Today, Mabotja is Business Line Manager within business area Rock Processing, based in Johannesburg. “I oversee the sales performance strategy and operational delivery of our screening solutions (see fact box) across Africa. I manage customer relationships, support our teams, and drive business growth, ensuring that our solutions deliver value, reliability, and efficiency to our customers.”
Understanding customers is central to her approach. “To be successful you must know your customers – their pain points, how they want to work, and what matters to them,” she says. “My mining background helps a lot, but to really understand their needs you need to stay close to your customers.”
Mabotja manages around 50 customer relationships in over 40 countries. So, staying close to her customers involves a lot of travel, which she enjoys – as long as the trips aren’t too long.
Balancing global travel with family life
“My kids would discipline me if I was away too much!” she laughs. “I have a husband and three beautiful children, and my number one priority is to spend as much time as I can with them. We enjoy being outdoors, running, cycling, having picnics, and going on holidays. Luckily, my girls like playing netball with me too.”
As well as mining, netball has also been a constant thread throughout Mabotja’s life, from her school days in rural Limpopo province to her professional career. “I started a netball team at the first mine I worked at and before long we were competing with other teams across South Africa in mining leagues,” she says.
Today, she plays in a local action netball league. “Action netball is played on an indoor court enclosed by a net, with smaller teams than in the traditional game. I love it because it's fast. You have to always be on your toes, keep an eye on your opponent, and come up with quick strategies. It’s very similar to my work.”
Building a career in mining sales and leadership
Mabotja particularly enjoys the variety and teamwork her work involves. “Every day is different in sales, especially in the fast-changing mining environment,” she says. “You need to be adaptable and balance immediate operational demands with long-term strategy. I work with different teams and customers who are committed to operational productivity and innovation.”
She has also continued to develop her career and recently completed a postgraduate diploma in management and a Sandvik global leadership program. “Both programs strengthened my leadership and business skills,” she says. “I’m passionate about my work, and Sandvik creates an environment where that passion can thrive. The company has strong values, such as a commitment to continuous improvement, which I also strive to live by – whether at work, at home, or on the netball court.”