Women in Engineering: Shaping South Africa's Infrastructure Future

As South Africa commemorates Women's Month, the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA) is celebrating the accomplishments of women engineers shaping the nation's infrastructure future. Since its establishment in 1961, IMESA has never adopted formal gender policies; instead, it emphasizes technical excellence, ethics, and community service. Currently, over 30% of its membership consists of women, many of whom hold leadership roles.

Three prominent engineers - Princesse Kabala Muke, Roxanne Canny, and Mpho Plaatjie - have shared their inspiring journeys and insights to encourage more young women to pursue careers in municipal engineering. Kabala Muke, a civil engineer based in Cape Town, recalls how growing up in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, made her aware of the direct impact infrastructure has on people's lives.

Canny, a water design specialist in KwaZulu-Natal, was influenced by her mother, a draughtswoman, and later discovered her passion for water engineering. Plaatjie, a civil engineer and project manager in Free State and Northern Cape, was inspired by her early childhood experiences with water installation, sparking her interest in engineering.

The female engineers believe that the profession has grown more inclusive, with an increasing number of women leading technical teams, managing infrastructure projects, and occupying executive positions. However, they emphasize the importance of enhancing internship and graduate programs and expanding bursary opportunities to attract more young engineers to the field.

Canny highlights that diversity has enriched the engineering profession by introducing varied perspectives, while Kabala Muke stresses the need for workplaces that empower women to lead, innovate, and influence strategic decisions.

IMESA plays a crucial role in supporting women engineers through mentorship, networking, and leadership development programs. Canny, who co-founded the Young Professionals Portfolio (YP²) under her leadership, explains that the initiative has helped create more opportunities for students and early-career engineers. The trio concludes by encouraging young women to consider careers in engineering, assuring them that they have a meaningful role in shaping South Africa's future through the delivery of essential infrastructure and public services.