Construction World March 2022

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NICHE CAREERS FOR WOMEN IN ENGINEERING

that spans transportation, the structure of buildings and bridges, geotechnical, surveys, and water and sewerage, to name just a few specialisations. Besides the work she does as a civil engineering technologist, Mofokeng believes that civil engineering in general is a good career choice for women. While the industry has been historically male-dominated, more women are entering the field, but she believes there’s room for improvement in this regard. It has been difficult for some women to make their mark, but Mofokeng advises women to believe in themselves and have the self-confidence to push through. “It’s also important to have a mentor, keep abreast of new developments in the industry, and build a strong network.” Mofokeng’s work provides stimulating and challenging opportunities. She describes GIBB’s current large-scale mining project as one of these. Mofokeng is involved in the design process for the formation of conveyors for a mining project, and is managing the Roads team. “This is a challenging project as it involves multi-disciplinary teams; therefore, the management of time, work and people is essential, and I have the added responsibility of being accountable if deliverables aren’t met.” One of her favourite projects to date was the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) project in the Johannesburg CBD. BRT is a Women are occupying almost every type of role in today’s business world, including niche roles that are sometimes overlooked. While fairly uncommon, they can be rewarding positions for women to consider. Sizakele Mofokeng can attest to this. She works as a civil engineering technologist for engineering firm, GIBB, and believes it’s a fulfilling career.

M ofokeng, who hails from Soweto, Johannesburg, had always wanted a career involving maths and science, so she obtained a diploma in civil engineering and then a BTech majoring in Transportation at the University of Technology. The difference between an engineer and a civil engineering technologist is the title of the degree. An engineer holds a BEng or BSc and a civil engineering technologist holds a BTech. Mofokeng was then employed by GIBB in 2008 and worked her way up the ranks to become a civil engineering technologist. The roads we drive on, pavements

we walk on, and the conveyors used in mines all originated as a design by technologists like Mofokeng. When she’s not working on drawings in the office, Mofokeng is on site where she observes her design work come to life. As an example, she recently spent eight months in Durban, acting as resident engineer on a walkways project. She finds it a fulfilling change of environment and enjoys working with the teams on site. Civil engineering is a broad field

“I also enjoy multidisciplinary projects. It’s exciting to witness different disciplines collaborating, realising the interdependence of the teams involved, and seeing the impact of our individual work overall.”

10 CONSTRUCTION WORLD MARCH 2022