Celebrating Women Engineers: Pioneers of Infrastructure in South Africa
Women leaders in municipal engineering are inspiring young South Africans to pursue careers in the field, showcasing how they can address real-world challenges and contribute to community development.
As South Africa commemorates Women's Month, the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA) is spotlighting the accomplishments of women engineers working on critical infrastructure projects throughout the nation. IMESA, which has never formally adopted gender policies, emphasizes technical excellence, ethics, and community service, and currently boasts over 30% female membership, many of whom hold leadership roles.
Three prominent engineers leading this initiative are Princesse Kabala Muke, chair of the Western Cape branch; Roxanne Canny, chair of the KwaZulu-Natal branch; and Mpho Plaatjie, co-chair of the Free State and Northern Cape branch. Rather than dwelling on challenges, these women are leveraging Women's Month to highlight the opportunities in municipal engineering and urge young women to consider careers that contribute to delivering essential public infrastructure.
Mpho Plaatjie, a civil engineer and project manager at Mangaung Municipality, recounted her childhood fascination with engineering after witnessing the installation of a water tap in her family home. This experience ignited her desire to pursue a career focused on improving access to clean water for other communities. Roxanne Canny, a registered civil engineer specializing in water design and acting area manager at eThekwini Municipality, drew inspiration from her mother, a draughtswoman, and later discovered her passion for water engineering.
Joining local government enabled her to oversee projects from conception to completion, solidifying her dedication to municipal engineering. Princesse Kabala Muke, acting manager in the City of Cape Town's Urban Waste Management division, emphasized how infrastructure directly impacts people's quality of life, noting that engineering serves as a potent instrument for economic development, nation-building, and social transformation.
IMESA's engineers recognize the profession's growing inclusivity, with more women assuming technical leadership positions, managing infrastructure programs, and occupying executive roles. However, Mpho Plaatjie advocates for strengthening internship and graduate programs, as well as expanding bursary opportunities to attract more young engineers to the field.
Roxanne Canny highlighted the enrichment of the profession through diversity, which introduces varied perspectives, while Princesse Kabala Muke underscored the necessity of fostering environments where women can lead, innovate, and influence strategic decisions.
IMESA's initiatives, including the Young Professionals Portfolio (YP²), play a pivotal role in supporting women's careers in engineering by offering mentorship, networking, and leadership development. Canny, who co-founded the YP² portfolio in the Western Cape under Kabala Muke's leadership, encourages young women to view engineering as a viable and impactful career path, emphasizing that they have a crucial role in shaping South Africa's future through the provision of vital infrastructure and public services.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
