WOMEN IN WATER
Leading transformation South Africa’s water sector is arguably a global leader in closing the gender equality gap but it’s not all about the numbers – women in South Africa’s water sector stand out for their stellar skills. By Frances Ringwood
Nomvula Mokonyane
Minister of Water and Sanitation
T
he number of South African women who hold senior positions in the water sector in government, the private sector, community organisations, and within the research, sciences, environmental and academic fields is remarkable. A recent WISA internal census revealed that of 1 576 members aged 20 to 40 (and WISA membership represents a sizeable chunk of Southern Africa’s top decision-makers in the water sector), 45% were women. But it’s not just about quantities and quotas: the women in the South African water sector boast incredible skills, learning, insight and business acumen. The following tribute to Women in Water features just a handful of leading figures, briefly looking at their accomplishments and contributions. Tribute to Women in Water The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), for example, is headed by two women – the minister, Nomvula Mokonyane, and her deputy, Pamela Tshwete. During Mokonyane’s tenure,
Pamela Tshwete Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation
Snowi Khoza
CE of BIGEN Africa
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she and her deputy have pushed tirelessly for radical transformation of government’s water services supply chain. Leading black South African business women whose work impacts the sector include Snowi Khoza, CE of BIGEN Africa, who is highly accomplished academically and in business. She has been a champion of women in business throughout her career. Another impressive black woman leader is Nonkululeko Sindane, appointed CEO at UWP Consulting in May last year, who has a background in law and experience working at Umgeni Water. Flying the transformation flag at Alula Water, an engineering consultancy focusing on water projects, is Dinao Lerutla, director: Operations and Strategy. Also in the engineering field is Malani Padayachee-Samab, CEO of Malani Padayachee & Associates. Padayachee-Samab was the first South African Indian woman engineer and business owner. Another highly impressive woman in this category is Allyson Lawless, MD of the South African Institute of Civil Engineering
It’s not just about quantities and quotas: the women in the South African water sector boast incredible skills, learning, insight and business acumen 12
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Nonkululeko Sindane CEO at UWP Consulting
Dinao Lerutla
Director: Operations and Strategy at Alula Water
– Professional Development Projects, known for championing the professional development of South Africa’s engineers. In the sciences and research field, two leaders working at the Water Research Commission (WRC) are Valerie Naidoo, research manager: Water Use and Waste Management, and Jo Burgess, research manager: Mine Water Treatment and Management. Both have articles published in this edition of WASA. Naidoo is the current president of WISA while Burgess is the most recent past president. In the chemistry and environmental field, Susan Cole, MD of Aqua Resources SA, is notable for having been a shining star at leading chemical companies for many years and then finally taking the plunge and becoming a local business owner selling quality water treatment products. A woman to watch is Shakera Arendze, process scientist at Rand Water and chairperson of Water Sciences for WISA. Many more There are so many inspiring women leaders in the local water sector that it is impossible to name them all, and literally hundreds have not been added to the above honour roll because of space constraints (although they