Lesedi is a leading engineering procurement and construction company, and due to the nature of the business, being male male-dominant industry, the organization strives for inclusivity and ensuring that women are afforded opportunities to thrive in the industry. We shine some spotlight on some of the ladies who are making waves and have kick-started their engineering careers with Lesedi.
Kriselda Chetty hails from Durban and acquired a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and has experience in academia, as she started her career as a lecturer at the University of South Africa. She, however, realised that she was more drawn to the practical application side of engineering.
Chetty moved to Cape Town after landing a graduate engineer position at SMEC and later joined Lesedi as a Junior Electrical Engineer. How she came into contact with Lesedi is an interesting story. She approached one of Lesedi’s seniors at Enlit Africa, where she learned about the company, and she expressed interest, and shortly after, she landed her current role.
“One of the most intriguing parts of working at Lesedi Energy is the on-site experience. The most rewarding part of my role is taking on a design with little to no prior knowledge and gradually piecing together what needs to be done. Over time, this process builds confidence, so that with each new design, I become more proficient and self-assured in my engineering skills.”
Her interest in engineering was also sparked by a childhood curiosity and by discovering through watching TV how science could be used to solve real problems. Even though she was also drawn to other fields such as Law, accounting, and the medical field, her fascination alongside the love for technical subjects led her to choose engineering. Speaking of being a female engineer, she states that at Lesedi, “I have been fortunate to work with professionals who value my contributions based on merit, and I’ve also learned the importance of speaking up and taking initiative, especially in technical discussions.”
Eniswa Kandzi’s from the Eastern Cape, was one of the Lesedi’s Bursary beneficiaries who studied Nuclear Engineering at the University of North West. Before this, she was already deep into the engineering field, as she was already armed with a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering from the Cape Peninsula University. She is currently one of the brightest Engineers in Training and has been exposed to the nuclear division and is currently within the Renewable Energy department, where she is part of the design team.
After being with the organisation for over a year, her highlight is working on the Newinbosch project, a 4MW rooftop solar PV installation in Stellenbosch, where Lesedi is installing solar panels across multiple roof surfaces.
“I am actively involved in system design and layout development. Additionally, I am contributing to the design of the Unipackfruit site in Ashton and assisting the team in preparing technical submissions for renewable energy tenders,” she says. Her love for the engineering field was sparked by her sister’s husband, who worked in an environment surrounded by engineers and always came back with fascinating stories about various projects. “It was through his stories that I began to understand that engineering is not just about machines and technical systems, it is about creating practical, innovative solutions that improve people’s lives,” she said. Speaking about being a female in engineering at Lesedi, she says her colleagues prioritize abilities over preconceptions.
Siphesihle Mtshali is one of the female engineers who has a bright future in the engineering field. She is armed with A Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Civil Engineering from the Durban University of Technology. She says when she started, she worked at the Ankerlig Power Station in Atlantis for a year, and that afforded her site and design experience.
When she started, she battled being shy and wondering if she belonged there, but over time, she managed to break out of her shell, ask questions, and ask for help, which eventually gave her the confidence to work independently.
“More recently, I was assigned to represent civil engineering at the Kendal Power Station site, while we await the appointment of a permanent site engineer. Taking on that responsibility was daunting at first, but I stepped up, and it’s been a huge growth moment for me. Another milestone for me is simply being able to design real structures and see them come to life. In varsity, we are taught the theory, but actually applying it in the field has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career so far.”
Mtshali was at first drawn to meteorology but was encouraged by her teacher to consider engineering, and because of her love for solving problems, it worked out for her. “Growing up in a rural area with limited infrastructure, I have always had the desire to give back. I see civil engineering as a way to do that.”