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WOMEN IN PLUMBING
Changing perceptions one site at a time
By
Rory Macnamara
This month we chat to Candice Savva-Gomes – vice chair and director of SAWIP .
As vice chairperson can you briefly describe the role of SAWIP ? My role is to assist our chairperson ( Lorraine Mooi ) and to be her backup . It may be to give her advice or to be a sounding board . Our designated roles are pretty much just on paper , because the three of us jump in and execute whatever needs to be done to get the job done .
What challenges do you face in the industry ? I think that there is a general perception that men hold the sole ability in plumbing and that plumbing is far too labour intensive or technical for a woman .
I ’ ve often walked onto a site , and I ’ ve been met with either a comment or look that says , “ What do you think you can tell me about plumbing that I don ’ t already know !” We ’ re changing this perception one site at a time .
What was the defining moment in your life that brought you into the plumbing industry ? I had reached a point in my career – I had been at a company that did marketing for a host of manufacturers within the building industry for six years , and I realised that I wanted more out of my career .
C Savva-Gomes
Candice Savva-Gomes , vice chair and director of SAWIP .
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline November 2021 Volume 27 I Number 9