Edited by David Smith . Sourced by SA Women in Plumbing ( SAWIP )
WOMAN IN PLUMBING
SA Women Plumbing Apprentices share their thoughts ‐ ( Part 6 )
Continuing our series on Women in Plumbing , at the request of SAWIP , we are chatting to apprentice plumber Thandi Skosana . As Plumbing Africa has consistently maintained , we do not wait for Women ’ s Month but recognise women monthly / all the time .
35 young people like me who want to pursue a career in the plumbing industry .
6 . Who is your employer ? My employer is the Institute Of Plumbing South Africa ( IOPSA ).
Thandi Skosana
Thandi Skosana , apprentice plumber .
7 . Are you a team player ? Yes , I am a team player . Aspects of being a team player include working with a group of people to achieve a shared goal ; listening to other members of the team ; working for the good of the group as a whole ; taking everyone ' s ideas on board , not just my own ; having a say and sharing responsibly as well as being approachable . PA
1 . What is the best part of being an apprentice plumber ? No more plumbing bills – since I have become an apprentice plumber I have actually stopped having to pay someone else to do the job , now I want to do everything myself at home ( fix leaks , installing taps , installing toilets etc ) because by doing that I am gaining more experience and confidence in my work .
2 . What is the worst part of being an apprentice plumber ? Sometimes companies take advantage of apprentices by making them do all the work for free ( I mean a little bit of appreciation once in a while can be nice ).
3 . How are you managing the worst part ? I think the best way of handling this is to constantly remind yourself , " Why are you here ? What are your dreams ?"
4 . What do you believe is plumbing all about ? I believe that plumbing is all about systems of pipes and fixtures through which water , gas , and other fluids are distributed to homes and businesses . It also includes the design , installation , and maintenance of these systems .
5 . What will you contribute to plumbing when you qualify ? When I am qualified I would like to have my own plumbing company and work with skills development centers to help more
September 2022 Volume 28 I Number 7 www . plumbingafrica . co . za