REGULARS 9
Ashlar Matlonya – Building the 3 %
Edited By
Megan O’ Connor
In this edition of‘ Tell Me Why?’, we profile Ashlar Matlonya – a confident and determined plumber that works at Sefako Makgatho Health Science University, and who wants to change the statistics of women in plumbing.
Matlonya did her training at BluLever Education and joined the plumbing industry in 2022. This year marks her fifth year in the industry.
2
Originally, Matlonya aspired to become an electrician expert, and when she was doing her apprenticeship in electrical work, her opportunity to join BluLever came about.
“ I didn’ t know that plumbing was actually a career until I went to BluLever. I thought it was just something you grew up with, seeing your father do plumbing work around the house, and thinking that you also want to do it one day – not knowing that it is actually a skill that you go to school and learn about.”
1
All images supplied by Ashlar Matlonya
1 to 3 – Ashlar Matlonya working on site.
Matlonya’ s advice to women looking at plumbing as a career“ My honest advice to women looking at getting into the industry is to have grit, because it is not easy – especially as a woman. The chances of surviving in the industry as a woman are much less, and I am thankful that my training included physical training before we were placed into real jobs. The physicality of the job is not easy – most jobs include strength, confined spaces and working at height. So, you just need to have grit and know that this is your passion, and that you are in it to win it.”
“ Only 3 % of people in the plumbing industry around the globe are women.”
May 2026 Volume 32 I Number 03 www. plumbingafrica. co. za