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Youth in construction

Construction not just a man’s job

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:50

By Nthambeleni Gabara

Highlights: Apprentices Skills can be learned entirely through informal on-the-job training

The world of construction is being seen more and more as an attractive career choice for women, as it gradually sheds off its image of being a traditionally male dominated industry.

The industry is competitive; the rate of business turnover is high and young women from all over South Africa are vying for learnerships, diplomas and degrees that are construction related to work alongside their male counterparts.

When Adelaide Madiba, 19, enrolled for a Building Science course at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) this academic year, she felt, “I am not in this industry to compete with men, but to make a mark in a former male-dominated bastion as a young woman”.

The Building Science student from Polokwane said it was a myth that all women who are venturing into the industry are big-built and strong.

“At first I was also nervous, but now I am enjoying the industry. It is all about being innovative and women have capacity to make strides in this field,” said Ms Madiba told BuaNews during the Youth in Construction week.

The five-day long career exhibition was organised by the Gauteng Premier’s office and held at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, in Newtown Johannesburg.

The Discovery Centre is Gauteng’s exciting Science Centre and the largest of its kind in the African continent. It offers visitors the chance to view exhibitions and science related displays and has become a popular choice for school excursions since its opening four years ago.

Initiated by the Gauteng Department of Education and private sector representatives, Sci-Bono aims to support education in mathematics, science and technology to improve public engagement with science, engineering and technology and to promote career education in these critical areas of the economy.

During the exhibition that targets grade 8 to 12 learners, leaders of the South African construction industry displayed career paths they offer to the over 6 000 students who attended the event.

The exhibition stalls set up in the uniquely crafted edutainment destination allowed learners, educators, companies and tourists to interactively participate in exciting and fun-filled activities at the mathematics, science and technology centre.

Another first level Building Science student from TUT, Cassandrea Leukes, 19, said: “People in this field always think out of the box and we learn new things on a daily basis.”

Tshepo Rakosa, a 27-year-old woman from Soweto, endured much gossiping and mockery in the township where she lived when it became known that she was pursuing her career in plumbing.

“At first, I was also a bit nervous because I had never seen a woman in this field and people were not taking me seriously. This is a challenging field which is not all about waste,” she said.

Nthabiseng Moloi, 20, said although she was prone to injuries while performing her job at times, she is enjoying her work as a plumber.

“I sometimes hit my fingers with a hammer, but I continue working because I am proud of this field. People should also refrain from regarding plumbing as a man’s job.

“I am a woman, but I am able to use a hammer and chisel and I can dig a trench,” she said.

Both Ms Rakosa and Ms Moloi are first level students at the Plumbing Training Academy.

Baande Mukhovha, a grade 11 learner at Emndeni Secondary School in Soweto, said the career exhibition gave him a change of heart.

Alerting learners to the opportunities that construction offered, Lucas Manyakeni from Power Construction said construction offered more opportunities currently - especially employment in heavy and civil engineering construction has increased due to the infrastructure that needed to be built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“New power plant construction and connecting to these new facilities to the current power grids will increase demand for workers, so we need more young people to be involved in this industry,” he said.

Representing the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC), Christina Uys, said young people who wanted to pursue careers in the field may enter the construction industry through a variety of educational and training backgrounds.

“Those entering construction out of high school usually start as labourers, helpers, or apprentices Skills can be learned entirely through informal on-the-job training, but the more education received, generally the more skilled workers become,” she said.

Youth in construction is an initiative of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), the South Africa Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC), the South African Institution of Civil engineering (SAICE) and the Gauteng Master Builders Association (GMBA).

- BuaNews