Women Engineers in South Africa Showcase Achievements in Infrastructure Development

As part of Women's Month celebrations, the Institute of Municipal Engineering of South Africa (IMESA) highlights the achievements of female engineers who are leading infrastructure development projects across the country, while also encouraging more young women to enter this profession.

Established in 1961, IMESA states that it has never implemented formal gender policies, instead focusing on creating a professional environment for municipal engineers based on technical excellence, ethics, and community service. Today, over 30% of the institute's members are women, many of whom hold leadership positions.

Among them are Roxanne Kenny, Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal branch; Princess Kabala Muke, Chairperson of the Western Cape branch; and Mpho Platjie, Chairperson of the Free State and Northern Cape branches.

Rather than focusing on obstacles, these three engineers use Women's Month to demonstrate the opportunities available in municipal engineering and to encourage students, graduates, and young professionals to consider a career that helps provide vital public infrastructure.

Platjie, a civil engineer and project manager at the Mangaung Municipality, shared that her interest in engineering arose in childhood after living in a community without piped water. She was inspired by watching technicians install a tap in her family's home, which prompted her to choose a career focused on improving access to clean water for other communities.

Kenny, a registered civil engineer specializing in water supply design and acting area manager at the Ekurhuleni Municipality, reported that her mother, a draftsman, inspired her before she discovered a passion for hydraulic engineering. After starting her career in consulting, she noted that working for local government allowed her to oversee projects from the design stage through to implementation, strengthening her commitment to municipal engineering.

Kabala Muke, an acting manager in the waste management department of the City of Cape Town, shared that living in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo showed her how infrastructure directly impacts people's quality of life. She emphasized that engineering is not just a technical profession but also a powerful tool for economic development, nation-building, and social transformation.

These three engineers believe that the profession has become increasingly inclusive as more women lead technical teams, manage infrastructure programs, and occupy executive roles. However, Platjie stated that municipalities must continue to strengthen internship programs for graduates and expand scholarship opportunities to attract more young engineers.

Kenny noted that diversity has enriched the engineering profession by bringing different perspectives, while Kabala Muke stressed the importance of creating workplaces where women can be empowered for leadership, innovation, and influence on strategic decisions. The engineers also highlighted the value of professional associations like IMESA, noting that mentorship, networking, and leadership development are essential to support women throughout their careers.

Kenny, who co-founded the IMESA Young Professionals Portfolio (YP²), said that this initiative created more opportunities for students and early-career engineers. This program was subsequently expanded to the Western Cape under Kabala Muke's leadership.

Their message to young women considering engineering is simple: they belong in this profession and can play a significant role in shaping the future of South Africa by implementing vital infrastructure and public services.

Serisha Sirputh, the director of LDM, based in Durban, is convinced that South Africa needs an increase in the number of women making decisions in the building industry. Sirputh, who is also a professional estimator with over eighteen years of experience in the construction sector, asserts that every woman in a leadership position paves the way for others.

She stated her commitment to using her voice to help more women not only enter this industry but also succeed in it. Sirputh shows deep interest in mentoring women in construction and promoting initiatives aimed at creating a more inclusive and interconnected sector.

LDM specializes in estimating and construction project management, overseeing all stages from planning to completion, including aspects of cost, budget, timelines, and quality. Furthermore, LDM provides services in engineering, procurement, construction management, program management, facility management, public-private partnerships, and infrastructure master planning.

Beyond her technical role, Sirputh oversees operations, IT, and human resources, as well as employee training and wellness programs. She noted that she has been fortunate to grow within a company that genuinely invests in its employees, believes in learning, and promotes internal advancement.

Sirputh emphasized that having outstanding mentors shaped not only her skills but also her self-confidence. She explained that success comes from organization and treating time as a valuable resource, as events in this industry develop quickly, and missing critical moments is easy if deadlines are not monitored.

She also believes that building genuine relationships is vital for business success. According to her, this industry is as much about people as it is about projects, and connections with colleagues, clients, and mentors have opened doors for her that she didn't even know existed.

In Sirputh's view, the key condition for her success is continuous learning. She notes that just when one thinks everything has been mastered, a new technology, method, or trend can drastically change the situation, and curiosity helps remain adaptive and stay ahead of changes.

Nevertheless, Sirputh pointed out that despite the progress made by female entrepreneurs, some obstacles remain persistent. One of the significant barriers for women-led businesses remains access to finance. Many face difficulties obtaining the necessary capital for growth due to investor bias, strict collateral requirements, or a general lack of serious consideration.

Moreover, old stereotypes persist, such as doubts about women's leadership capabilities or the expectation that they will balance full domestic responsibility with a career. These factors can limit both time and opportunities. There is also a gap in mentorship and professional networks. Without strong connections and role models, many women feel they are navigating their career path alone, which significantly complicates the ascent to leadership positions.

Sirputh advises aspiring female entrepreneurs to utilize available resources and boldly pursue dreams that exceed expectations. She insists that ideal conditions are not necessary to start making an impact. It is important to surround oneself with mentors, colleagues, and allies who believe in your vision and encourage growth. It is crucial to deeply understand one's financial performance, as financial literacy provides strength and confidence in negotiations.

She stressed that both the difficulties and successes faced by female entrepreneurs are an integral part of their unique voice, urging them to embrace their individual stories and paths as distinguishing elements. Sirputh recommends being ready to use technology and digital tools for creative marketing, smarter work, and expanding reach. Most importantly—maintaining resilience. Failures are inevitable, but they are lessons, not defeats. Small victories should be noted, as they serve as stepping stones to greater success.

Ahead of Women's Month in South Africa in August, hundreds of women will gather in Johannesburg for an event focused on addressing issues of financial empowerment, entrepreneurship, and leadership. The discussion on gender equality goes beyond mere representation and includes financial independence, leadership development, and creating conditions for women to thrive.

The Brave Collective Event

Next month, The Brave Collective will host another event in Johannesburg, bringing together women from the country's advertising, marketing, and creative industries. This gathering initially consisted of only 40 women six years ago, but it has now grown into a community of over 4,000 participants. The Brave Collective, co-founded by Tarin Hunter Sharma and Perry King, serves as a platform that encourages women to invest not only in their careers but also in self-confidence, professional networks, and financial well-being.

Event Details

This year's theme is 'Fortune Favours the Brave. Own It.'. It will take place on August 5th at The Forum in Bryanston and will bring together over 400 women for discussions focused on personal growth, entrepreneurship, leadership, and financial empowerment. According to Hunter Sharma, one of the most significant challenges many women face is discomfort when discussing their own financial worth.

She noted: 'The women in our room are already good at communicating with each other, but they have practiced less in having an honest conversation about money, value, and the numbers in their contracts and bank statements. That is the kind of conversation we created at The Brave Collective.'

Program and Speakers

The program features presentations by successful South African women in business, fashion, and finance. Kenshani Nobanda, Executive Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nedbank Group, will address the topic of confident leadership and decision-making. Lihle Ngskokolo-Nkini, Managing Director of MaXhosa Africa, will share her experience in transforming a proud South African heritage brand into a globally recognized business.

Philanthropist and businesswoman Rachel Kolisi plans to share her personal story of resilience and recovery after life setbacks. Additionally, financial educator Carla Winter, founder of Money With Carla, will conduct a workshop aimed at strengthening women's financial confidence and helping them achieve long-term independence.

Principles and Historical Context

The event will conclude with The Brave Collective's signature 'Greatest Fears Share Session', where participants are encouraged to openly acknowledge their personal and professional fears in a supportive atmosphere. The organization states that its work is built on three interconnected pillars: self-esteem, network, and clean capital, believing that true empowerment requires growth in all three aspects. Hunter Sharma believes that South Africa's legal history provides important context for understanding the relevance of conversations about women's financial independence.

For much of the country's history, many married women could not own property independently, sign contracts, or open bank accounts without their husband's consent. Women in customary marriages did not receive full legal recognition as adults until 1998. Hunter Sharma emphasized that 'this legal history is not distant; every woman in our room is at most one generation away from it. And the industries where most of them work, including ours, still have ground to make up.'

Support for the Initiative

While Women's Month often celebrates achievements, initiatives like The Brave Collective also highlight the need for ongoing work to ensure equal access for women to leadership opportunities, financial knowledge, and supportive professional communities. The event is supported by Nedbank as the main sponsor, along with partners including Biogen, Estée Lauder, Curious Tom, Pop Up Sisters, Profmed, and Chapters.