Turning the spotlight on the women in engineering

Turning the spotlight on the women in engineering

With engineering being considered a male-dominated industry, Mopani TVET College plays an important role in changing such perception by providing women equal opportunities in engineering, and for all employees to showcase their competencies and skills to inspire the upcoming women engineers.

This College has been employing women as facilitators and/or lecturers in various workshops and fields like Civil, ERD- and Electrical Engineering, IT and NATED Engineering programmes. The current ratio of males to female lecturing staff at Sir Val Duncan Engineering Campus is 37:16. In doing so it has brought awareness and recognition to the fact that engineering is not only for males.

Ms Petronella Mudau attached to the Civil Engineering faculty at Sir Val Duncan Campus is one of the women who was recently appointed as a facilitator to teach Bricklaying. “I always knew that what I wanted to do was engineering - one way or another. While growing up I saw many women choosing either humanities or social science. I then encouraged myself that I want to be different and went straight to engineering” said Mudau. She added that she is happy to be part of women in engineering who are shaping the world of future artisans in the TVET sector.

“When I was doing my first year at the University of Technology, the majority of students and instructors were males. Here at Mopani TVET College, it is different. It is so refreshing that there is so much change in that young talented women are afforded an opportunity to lecture. It helps to demystify the perception where people see a female first before they realise that you are an engineer. Many young females are joining the sector and being taught by other females encourages them to do their best during their studies,” she said.

These sentiments were also echoed by Lotanang Tracey Sikhwari, a female facilitator in Diesel Mechanics who said: “I love showing my students, especially females, how diverse engineering is and how cool it is to be a woman in this industry.”

Sikhwari has been with the College for three years and her duties, amongst others, include offering hands-on instruction in an engine lab or auto shop and teaching the principles of diesel engine repair and maintenance in a classroom setting.

Mopani TVET College women are fit to lead

During the Foskor F21 marathon on Saturday 30 July 2022, three of Mopani TVET Colleges’ female employees proved their fitness running the 10km and 21km, respectively. The F21 marathon is the second largest paying half marathon hosted in South Africa. The six women who participated in the marathon were; Maluleke Y, Mashabane LS, Maenetja RT and Mongwe DS who ran the 10km race and Mojela JM and Mathebula MT who ran the 21km half marathon. Seven of the college male staff also participated.

The college also hosted the 9km waterpoint for this event and the team spirit displayed by the college management, staff and student representative council encouraged the runners to finish strong. The waterpoint was along the R71 on route next to Namakgale township to Phalaborwa town.

Female artisans finish their trade testing for Centre of Specialisation apprenticeship programme

Seven female artisans of Mopani TVET College in the Diesel Mechanic trade have recently completed their trade testing and passed. These women form part of the first group of Centre of Specialisation apprentices who have been resulted as competent in Diesel Mechanics. The female artisans are LS Mboweni, MN Matokane, TM Malesa, SM Moagi, K Ngobeni, T Pilusa and M Mhlanga.

Women who are part of Mopani TVET College management

The Mopani TVET College is proud that three of its seven senior managers are female. The Phalaborwa Campus Manager is Mrs AP van Niekerk who has been with the college since 1993. The Deputy Principal Corporate Services, Ms MC Ramosibudi started her service at MTVET in 2018 and in 2010 the acting Deputy Principalz Finance, Ms LM Selala joined the staff complement of this institution.

Contact details: Corporate Office Corner Haarlem and Combretum streets Phalaborwa 1389

Tel: 015 781 5721 / 5administration@mopanicollege.edu.zawww.mopanicollege.edu.za