16 BUSINESS AND TRAINING
Sindiswa Mbina is building more than pipes, she’ s building access
By
BluLever Education, edited by Megan O’ Connor
For Sindiswa Mbina, plumbing was never just about learning a trade. It was about understanding how infrastructure shapes everyday life, especially in communities where access to water is not guaranteed.
Image supplied by BluLever Education
“ We understood that we had to earn trust. Not by arguing, but by working hard and proving ourselves on site,” she explains.
Over time, that approach paid off. Two years later, the team now trusts and respects them as capable plumbers, equal to their male counterparts.
Still, the reality of working as a woman on site came with added pressure. Mbina often felt unable to express exhaustion without being labelled as weak or as‘ complaining’. She carried additional responsibilities, from cleaning and organising the van to managing materials, admin updates, reports and site housekeeping, on top of the physical plumbing work itself.
“ There were times when I was doing everything. If something went wrong, I was the one blamed,” she says.
Despite this, she persisted. She continued lifting geysers, digging trenches, drilling walls, working in confined space, and taking on technical tasks alongside administrative responsibilities. The demands were high, but they sharpened her skills.
Everything changed when a permaculture project supported by Shoprite donated a 20 000l Jojo tank and restored an old borehole system. Mbina watched plumbers install the system and bring running water directly into the yard.
“ That’ s when I really became interested. Seeing how they made water so easily accessible was powerful. Suddenly, we had a tap right there. It changed everything,” she says.
That moment stayed with her. Plumbing became more than a skill, it became a way to serve her community. As informal settlements continue to develop, Mbina saw a future where clean water systems would be essential, and where people with the right skills would be needed to build them.
She entered the trade focused on that purpose, not on the fact that plumbing is male-dominated.
“ I believed I could do it. And I still believe that, especially because I’ m now in my third year while others have dropped out along the way,” she says.
The early days of her apprenticeship were challenging. Like many women in the trade, Mbina encountered stereotypes about physical strength and endurance. But she knew her own capacity. She had already done physically demanding work before plumbing, and the physical training at LBC further prepared her for the realities of the job.
While placed at her employer, she and another female apprentice experienced moments of sexism from male colleagues who questioned their strength and competence. Instead of withdrawing, they focused on consistency, effort and learning.
What she values most now is the knowledge she’ s gained.
“ Being able to do the technical work, the onsite admin and the office admin feels like a superpower,” she says.“ Those skills are what will help me build my own business one day.”
She credits BluLever’ s soft skills modules for helping her understand the full picture of running a business, not just the technical side. On site, she has also seen how her presence as a woman strengthens communication between clients, plumbers and admin teams.
Today, Mbina is trusted to complete installations independently. When working on tasks like geyser installations, responsibilities are shared evenly, with no distinction based on gender. Her teammates recognise her capability and often rely on her precision, especially in confined spaces where her size is an advantage.
Looking back, she believes mindset is everything:“ The biggest thing to manage is your state of mind. That’ s the difference between people who qualify and those who drop out,” she says.
She still carries words spoken to her early in her apprenticeship, during a difficult moment that could have pushed her out of the trade.“ It’ s not training if it’ s not hard. That stayed with me. It built something in me,” she says.
Mbina’ s journey is not just about breaking stereotypes. It’ s about preparation, endurance and choosing to stay the course. As she works towards qualifying and eventually opening her own plumbing business, she is clear about the role she wants to play.
Plumbing, for her, is about access, dignity and building a future where communities don’ t have to struggle for something as basic as water. PA
www. plumbingafrica. co. za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline April 2026 Volume 32 I Number 02