6 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I October 2026
WOMEN IN MAINTENANCE networking
BREAKING THE ICE: THE RISE OF FEMALE POWERHOUSES IN THE HVAC & R SECTOR
By Eamonn Ryan
In her presentation at a recent cold chain event, Lutendo Ndhlovu from South Africa’ s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment( DFFE) challenges the sector to look at this sector through two powerful lenses: environmental responsibility and gender inclusion.
She argues the future of the cold chain must be both greener and more inclusive, and women have a crucial role to play as technical leaders, innovators and decision-makers.
Already, women are present and valued in many professional spaces, yet in the servicing and maintenance segment of the refrigeration and air conditioning( RAC) sector, their participation remains limited.
The issue, she stresses, is not that women lack ability or interest. On the contrary, women are skilled and capable technicians and in many cases, they perform at the same level or even better than their male counterparts.
“ The challenge lies in historical patterns, workplace culture and the structure of technical training and employment, which have not always been welcoming to women,” she says.
Ndhlovu emphasises that initiatives to bring more women into the sector are not acts of charity and not about“ feeling sorry” for women. They are about recognising existing talent and removing the barriers that prevent women from thriving in technical roles.
The call she issues is:
• Open doors for women in servicing and maintenance.
• Change workplace norms that subtly( or overtly) discourage female technicians.
• Recognise women as‘ powerhouses’ in a sector that is strategically vital for the country’ s economy and environmental commitments.
THE POLICY BACKBONE: MONTREAL PROTOCOL AND KIGALI AMENDMENT
Ndhlovu reviewed South Africa’ s obligations under international environmental agreements – particularly the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment.
South Africa is a party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, supported by the Vienna Convention. Historically, many refrigerant gases used in cooling systems – such as CFCs( chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs( hydrochlorofluorocarbons) – were identified as major contributors to ozone layer depletion.
Under the Montreal Protocol:
• South Africa committed to phasing out ozone-depleting substances( ODS).
• Through 2014 ODS Regulations, the country successfully phased out 97.5 % of its baseline consumption of these harmful substances.
Since then, imports of ODS have been restricted almost exclusively to what is needed to service and maintain existing equipment, with no new ODS-based equipment allowed.
As these substances were phased out, they were largely replaced by HFCs
Lutendo Ndhlovu from South Africa’ s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment( DFFE).
( hydrofluorocarbons). Unlike CFCs and HCFCs, HFCs have zero ozone depletion potential( ODP = 0). However, they have high global warming potential( GWP) and contribute significantly to climate change.
Recognising this, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, adopted in 2016 in Rwanda, introduced a global commitment to phase down HFCs. South Africa ratified this amendment and has pledged to reduce HFC consumption over time, especially in the HVAC & R sector.
The sector is a major consumer of refrigerant gases, particularly HFCs, and therefore a key area for climate action. At the same time, it is a source of employment, skills development and economic opportunity, which is why questions of who participates – and who is excluded – become so important.
FROM HIGH-GWP TO LOW-GWP: A TECHNICAL AND SOCIAL TRANSITION
Ndhlovu explains that South Africa’ s journey has followed a familiar global pattern:
• Phase-out of CFCs and HCFCs due to ozone depletion concerns.
• Widespread adoption of HFCs as alternatives with no ozone depletion pot ential.
© RACA Journal
6 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I October 2026