Once the exclusive domain of men, there is an encouraging new influx of women in the automotive industry in Gqeberha – bringing a fresh, new dynamism and balance to the sector.
Despite the fears of many women to break into male-dominated industries, these women are defying the odds, proving that women in these industries can excel. The automotive industry has been quite an industry controlled mainly by men, but in recent years many women have broken into the industry and earned their stripes.
Economic hub
The Eastern Cape province has become an economic hub and home to many vehicle manufacturing companies. Born and raised in Gqeberha, Luaneta Logie always loved the automotive industry. Her journey into the industry was not easy.
After graduating, she applied for a Graduate in Training Programme at Delta Motor Corporation but was declined twice. However, this did not deter her, instead, it made her even more determined to break into a then extremely male industry.
She says a lot of times it is the women who are the greatest threats to their own growth in this industry.
“What I have found the challenge to be is our own self limiting beliefs that we are not good enough, that we don’t have a powerful voice. And so for me, the challenge is always to help women grow their voice, to actually earn their seat at the table and to take their seat at the table. Men don’t prevent you from being at the table; we limit ourselves by not wanting to take up that seat because we don’t think we are enough. So overcoming that self-limiting belief is absolutely critical.”
Meanwhile, Ncedisa Mzuzu, an environmental officer by profession joined the automotive sector in 2008 as an environmental engineer. She had to quickly learn the ropes, always willing to learn new things and equip herself where she felt short.
Now she wears a new cap in this space, as Production Manager in the most challenging part of the automotive sector, the paint shop.
Mzuzu says dedication and hard work always prevailed in her career. “To young girls, if I can offer any advice is that they must have a curious mind, a mind that is inquisitive. They need to be willing to learn new things and most importantly a mind that is willing to take risks because this is the life you can’t stay in a comfort zone forever. So, I think they just need to take that leap of faith and go for what is out there.”
‘Bring the ladder down…’
Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Municipality Business Chamber, Denise van Huyssteen is a trailblazer within the automotive sector in Eastern Cape. She started her career in this sector at the Business Chamber.
Her out-of-the-box thinking led her of being headhunted by managers in the sector and she has never looked back, eventually bowing out after 20 years. “I think I got very used to working with men but I became more aware of their gender difference. When I first started in the automotive industry, I remember one of the first meetings I went to, because the secretary wasn’t there, I was asked if I would take the minutes of the meeting. It’s almost the same as asking you to make coffee for everybody you know. So, that’s kind of when you realise that there is this difference but I think over time that changed and also for me and it’s not about being singled out because you are a woman, it’s about being respected because you’re an equal. And for me, it’s about delivery and what I also set out to do was to learn what I didn’t know because I was dealing with very technical people, lots of engineers, and people who know cars inside out. So I had to make it my business to learn.”
The women say the greatest way to commemorate Women’s Day is to ensure that women at the top bring the ladder down to those coming after them. Author- Lwando Nomoyi
