Women in men jobs

Oyama Matomelafollowed her dream of becoming a pilot and has been able to do so with abursary from the Department of Roads and Transport. Picture: Supplied

By Vuyokazi Nkanjeni

Gone are the days where women were limited to certain types of jobs like teaching and nursing, these days women have entered the so-called men’s jobs.

Metrorail in East London employed its first female train driver in 2001. Ten years on it has employed four female drivers and Nomfudo Ngqaba from Zwelitsha is one of them.

The 32-year-old mother of one has been working at Metrorail for the past five years. Growing up Nomfundo wanted to become an engineer and after completing matric she studied towards a Diploma in Engineering. But she dropped out and went looking for a job.

“A vacancy came and I took it because I needed a job,” says Nomfundo.

She says at first her male colleagues couldn’t accept that a lady was capable of driving a train, but they had no choice.

When a train breaks down while transporting people it’s the drivers job to fix it, so that it can reach its destination. “I’ll hear comments like: ‘What do women know about driving a train? I knew this would happen.’ The funny thing is most of these comments come from other female passengers,” says Nomfundo.

Another inspiring lady working in a so-called man’s job is Nomvuzo Mtatase, 30, known as Mavuyi by her colleagues. She works at the Buffalo City Fire Brigade. Like Nomfundo growing up Mavuyi also wanted to be an engineer.

“The reason why I entered this job is number one for the money and number two I was also interested in helping the community,” says Mavuyi.

Mavuyi has been working as a fire fighter for two years. She says at first it was hard because there were many negative comments from her male colleagues like: ‘Women don’t know how to work’.” She kept on reminding herself why she was there.

“My family at first didn’t approve of my job they said it was too risky. But now they are very supportive because they can see how much I love my job,” says Mavuyi.

There are no “glitz and glam” working as a fire fighter, it’s a very risky job especially for a female. “I was once hit by zinc just above my left eye on duty. The thought of quitting didn’t even cross my mind,” said Mavuyi.

“I don’t see myself doing something else, here you learn something new every day and you get to save people’s lives,” added Mavuyi.

Mavuyi started off as a hair-dresser and she still runs her salon back home at Mdantsane.

Most women who enter these so-called men’s jobs, just do the jobs because they don’t have an option, they need the money.

With Oyama Matomela, 19, from Port Elizabeth it’s a different story,

Oyama is a registered pilot who recently graduated from the 43 Air School, the pilot training school based in Port Alfred.

She applied for a bursary at the Department of Roads and Transport to fund her studies, as tuition is very expensive.

“I chose this career because it’s unlike any other. I’ve had these aspirations from a young age and continued doing research in high school where I found 43 Air School which was said to be one of the best in the world,” says Oyama.

Her family is very proud of her especially her mother, she has been with her every step of the way through out her training, in good and bad days.

“At the Air School there wasn’t really any gender discrimination or unfair treatment, it seems like that because there are a few females in this industry,” says Oyama.

Oyama has been offered a job by the SAPS but is still waiting to be placed into a position. – WSU-SNA