Her Engineering Superpower
Celebrating the women shaping engineering through expertise, leadership and innovation.
Ayesha Hering
Professional Engineering Technologist (Pr TechEng)
My professional superpower is connecting engineering with people. I enjoy bringing together technical thinking, collaboration and clear communication to solve complex challenges.
Dr Matshidiso Moso
Professional Technologist (2025302634)
My professional superpower is transforming complex challenges into innovative, sustainable engineering solutions that create lasting impact. I bridge the gap between academia and industry by integrating Lean Engineering, Industry 4.0, research, and practical innovation to solve real-world problems. I am passionate about developing future engineers, empowering women in engineering, and fostering collaborations that drive meaningful change.
Bavana Micara Maharaj
Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng.)
My engineering superpower is looking beyond the traditional boundaries of engineering. While technical excellence is the foundation of my profession, I believe engineers create the greatest impact when they embrace strategy, innovation and collaboration. I have always sought opportunities beyond conventional day-to-day engineering, using my technical expertise to contribute to broader solutions that create sustainable value. Becoming a Professional Engineer strengthened my belief that engineering is not just about solving problems - it is about shaping opportunities and making a meaningful difference. I hope my journey inspires more women to realise that an engineer's influence extends far beyond the technical and into leadership, innovation and lasting change.
Bennitta Senyatsi
Professional Engineering Technologist (Pr. 2026303301)
Bennitta is currently employed at the Executive: Operational Excellence. Academically, she recently completed her Ph.D. Industrial Engineering, adding to her multiple qualifications and accolades. Bennitta also serves on the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment Academic Industry Boards at both University of Johannesburg and Tshwane University of Technology, where annually she is involved in speaking engagements for first year engineering students. She mentors female engineering students, supporting them to navigate studies and to be employable. She is an advocate for building the female engineering pipeline for the future. Bennitta is also a Sunday School Teacher.
Vusani Phalanndwa
Professional Engineer
As a Chief Mentor, I am passionate about developing the next generation of engineering professionals. I oversee the growth of young engineers by providing technical guidance, leadership, and structured mentorship throughout their careers. One of my greatest achievements is supporting aspiring engineers and mentoring young professionals on their journey to achieving ECSA Professional Engineer registration. I believe that empowering others through knowledge, encouragement, and opportunity strengthens both the engineering profession and society. My engineering superpower is building confident, competent, and ethical engineers who will lead innovation, solve complex challenges, and inspire those who follow.
Unathi Pretty Mbengwana
Candidate Engineering Technologist
My engineering superpower is engineering innovation that multiplies impact. I transform complex engineering challenges into practical, technology-driven solutions by combining reliability engineering, asset management, and artificial intelligence. Through my work in the water sector and as the inventor of Water Treatment Expert AI™, I am helping modernise engineering decision-making while improving operational performance. I believe engineering should solve problems beyond the plant or project, so I actively mentor future engineers, champion women in engineering, and lead initiatives expanding AI and engineering education across Africa. My greatest achievement is creating solutions that empower other engineers to deliver greater impact.
Tshenolo Mabothokgong Mashaba
Candidate Engineering Technologist
Mrs Tshenolo Mabothokgong Mashaba's professional superpower is her ability to inspire, mentor, and prepare future engineers for industry. As a lecturer at the Vaal University of Technology, she goes far beyond teaching technical content. She invests in her students' personal and professional development, equipping us with the skills, confidence, ethics, and industry knowledge needed to succeed. She is always willing to guide, encourage, and challenge us to reach our full potential. Her dedication to developing competent, ethical, and industry-ready engineers has made a lasting impact on many students and continues to strengthen the future of the engineering profession.
Thato Innocent ingwane
Professional Engineering Technician
My superpower is turning technical expertise into people leadership and measurable results. As an Elementary Production Unit Manager at Gibela, I lead 15 artisans and 5 technicians with cross-functional support from quality, process and EHS. As a qualified Boilermaker with 10+ years in manufacturing, I bring hands-on credibility to rail production. I led a Single Week Improvement Plan eliminating the 7 wastes in production, boosting efficiency and quality. I mentor teams on safety, problem-solving and growth, proving that women can lead, build, and bloom in heavy industry.
Thandokuhle Nkomo
Professional Engineering Technologist
Access to learning and meaningful opportunities can transform lives.As women in Engineering, we seek not special treatment but fair recognition and equitable opportunities to contribute, lead with integrity and make a lasting impact.
Takalani Netshipale
Candidate Engineer
Takalani Netshipale's professional superpower is transforming engineering expertise into lasting social impact through visionary leadership and collaboration. She has an exceptional ability to inspire and mobilise diverse stakeholders—including government, industry, academia and communities—to solve complex challenges while empowering the next generation of engineers. Whether delivering critical healthcare infrastructure, advancing ethical engineering, or creating opportunities for girls through STEM education, Takalani combines technical excellence with purpose-driven leadership. Her unique strength lies in turning ideas into measurable outcomes, building sustainable partnerships, and developing future leaders. She consistently demonstrates that engineering is not only about infrastructure, but about creating opportunities, transforming lives and strengthening communities.
Sithembile Ngcamu
Professional Engineering Technician
As a woman, I have developed resilience, adaptability, and strong problem-solving skills that have positively influenced my career in engineering. Balancing professional responsibilities with raising a family has strengthened my leadership, time management, and decision-making abilities. I bring empathy and collaboration to engineering projects, ensuring that infrastructure solutions address the diverse needs of the communities we serve. By demonstrating excellence, perseverance, and integrity in a traditionally male-dominated profession, I hope to inspire more women and young girls especially in rural areas, to pursue engineering careers and contribute to sustainable community development.
Simone Singh
Candidate Engineer
My professional superpower is transforming complex engineering challenges into practical, sustainable solutions that deliver lasting value. As a civil engineer in the forestry sector, I bridge engineering, operations, research and strategy to improve infrastructure performance, optimise investment decisions and strengthen long-term resilience. From helping drive the transformation of a 15,000 km forestry road network to pioneering research into waste beneficiation for sustainable road construction, I believe engineering is about creating systems that empower people, protect resources and enable society to thrive. My greatest achievement is turning technical knowledge into meaningful impact through collaboration, innovation and purpose-driven leadership.
Sanele Ayanda Ndlovu
Professional Engineering Technologist
My engineering superpower is integrating infrastructure delivery with human development. As a Civil Engineering Technologist and founder of Magnacorp Project Managers, I have built a career spanning roads, water infrastructure and project management while deliberately creating pathways into construction for women, youth and emerging contractors. Through accredited learnerships, skills programmes, mentorship and practical project exposure, I use the infrastructure environment as a platform for developing people alongside physical assets. Whether delivering sustainable groundwater solutions or road infrastructure, I believe engineering should leave behind more than a completed project. My superpower is building infrastructure that serves communities while building the people who will shape our industry's future.
Samantha Naidoo
Professional Technologist
My professional superpower is bringing people, engineering and purpose together to create lasting impact. For over 20 years, I have delivered civil and geotechnical engineering solutions across Africa by combining technical excellence with collaboration and strategic thinking. I believe the true measure of engineering is not only the infrastructure we build, but the opportunities we create and the people we empower. As a woman in STEM, I am passionate about mentoring future engineers, embracing innovation and leading with integrity to strengthen our profession and inspire the next generation.
Rudine Louw
Professional Engineer
Rudine is a highly accomplished civil engineer with over 10 years of experience in water and wastewater engineering. At Zutari, she contributed to the planning, design and delivery of major water and wastewater infrastructure projects with a combined capital value exceeding R1.5 billion. Since joining CCT's Engineering Management Branch (EMB) in 2024, she has provided technical and contractual expertise on complex infrastructure projects, claims and dispute resolution. She actively mentors candidate engineers, champions ECSA's values of professionalism and ethical practice, and has successfully mentored one candidate to Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng.) registration, making her a deserving candidate for ECSA recognition.
Rirhandzu Ngece
Professional Engineer
I am able to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences - technical and non-technical for the achievement of project goals. My ability to connect with each member of my project at an individual level enables me to develop rapport, determine their preferences for communication and obtain clarity about where their motivation lies. I am thereafter empowered with knowledge about their why, how they prefer things and what is meaningful to them. This skill was pivotal in my delivery of projects at the ORTIA SEZ, Gauteng Transport Authority and Gautrain Management Agency. My aim is: Project Management without drama.
Retang Sandra Maphothoma
Professional Engineering Technologist
My professional superpower is using engineering as a tool to create opportunities and inspire others. As a Professional Civil Engineering Technologist (Pr Tech Eng) , I deliver infrastructure solutions that improve communities while mentoring aspiring engineers and advocating for greater representation of women in STEM. Through my work and my non-profit organisation, Divine Community Association, I empower young people and women through mentorship, skills development, and leadership initiatives. I believe true engineering excellence is measured not only by the infrastructure we build, but by the lives we uplift and the leaders we inspire.
Puleng Moloi
Professional Engineering Technician
My superpower is building bridges between engineering, academia, governance and community development. I bring technical excellence, ethical leadership, passion and a commitment to making a meaningful difference wherever I serve. My experience in information and communications technology, railway engineering, professional assessments, community impact and higher education enables me to influence both infrastructure and people. I believe engineering is about more than solving technical problems; it is about empowering future professionals, strengthening institutions, driving innovation, creating sustainable solutions that improve lives and advancing the engineering profession through service, collaboration and lasting impact.
Prinell Naicker
Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng.)
My engineering superpower is seeing possibility where others see limitations and turning innovation into practical impact. Throughout my career, I have embraced emerging technologies such as BIM, 3D laser scanning, and digital engineering, not only to improve project delivery but to demonstrate what is possible when engineers challenge conventional thinking. By sharing knowledge, mentoring colleagues, and championing new ways of working, I have inspired others to embrace innovation with confidence. Combining technical expertise with curiosity, collaboration and courage has shaped my engineering journey, strengthened the organizations I have worked for, and contributed to a more progressive, resilient and future-ready engineering profession.
Pravanya Pillay
Professional Engineer
My professional superpower is leading with confidence, competence and authenticity. Since starting my engineering career in 2007, I have been fortunate not to define myself by the perception of being a woman in a traditionally male profession. I believe personality, credibility and initiative have shaped my journey. My advice to young women is simple: own your space, be bold, find a mentor early and learn from them. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you—create them. Engineering rewards those who step forward, stay curious and consistently deliver excellence.
Perusha Moodley
Professional Engineer
Perusha's superpower is multi-tasking. Across her career, she's rarely worked on one thing at a time: supporting design and engineering on Kusile and Medupi simultaneously, acting as Eskom's Chemical Centre of Excellence manager while still carrying a full senior engineer's workload, contributing across contracts, design reviews, and multiple power station projects at once. Now at CCBA, that same capacity supports water security strategy across Africa - using the same skills to develop water security strategies and optimise water reuse in some of the most water scarce regions.
Noxolo Bridget Dlamuka
Professional Engineering Technician
Her professional superpower is integrating multidisciplinary expertise to solve complex engineering challenges and deliver practical, data-driven solutions that create lasting impact. As a Professional Engineering Technician in Metallurgical Engineering and Project Manager, she combines metallurgy, quality management, project leadership and data analytics to improve performance and drive continuous improvement. She leads multidisciplinary initiatives with integrity, translating technical complexity into informed decisions, managing risk and delivering sustainable value. Passionate about collaboration, mentorship and lifelong learning, she empowers teams, strengthens engineering excellence and is growing as a young woman pursuing leadership, innovation and, impactful careers in engineering.
Nombulelo Claudia Zuma-Makhathini
Professional Technician & Professional Technologist
My professional superpower is the ability to bridge technical excellence, training development, and stakeholder coordination to achieve sustainable infrastructure delivery outcomes. I excel at translating complex engineering, quality management, and accreditation requirements into practical systems that support organisational growth and professional development. Through strong planning, communication, and compliance management skills, I ensure that training programmes meet regulatory standards while addressing operational needs. My strength lies in bringing together diverse teams, aligning objectives, and driving continuous improvement. This enables the successful development of competent professionals, improved service delivery, and the achievement of strategic organisational goals.
Nolwazi Sosibo
Candidate Engineering Technologist
My professional superpower is turning potential into possibility through engineering education. I believe knowledge changes lives, which is why I dedicate my career to mentoring, teaching and inspiring future engineers. Through outreach initiatives with SAICE, CESA and the UJ Civil Tech Forum, I engage learners and students, particularly in underserved communities, to make engineering accessible and achievable. As a lecturer and mentor, I strive to equip young people with the confidence and knowledge to pursue STEM careers, empowering them to transform their futures and become catalysts for positive change within their families and communities.
Natasha Ramkirpal
Professional Engineer
My professional superpower is seeing the invisible (X-ray vision). I uncover the hidden technical, financial and institutional barriers behind water insecurity and turn them into practical engineering solutions. Across Africa, I’ve led industrial infrastructure, water reuse, innovative PPP financing models and water resilient initiatives that are technically robust, commercially viable and locally relevant. I believe engineering should do more than solve problems - it should build African capability, strengthen communities and ensure the continent’s resources create value for its own people. That’s the lens I bring to every project and every engineer I mentor.
Mosa Moramang
Candidate Engineering Technologist
My engineering superpower is seeing beyond the structure to the legacy it creates. I intentionally bridge planning, construction and quality because I believe the strongest infrastructure is built when every stage works together. Working alongside multidisciplinary teams on the Polihali Dam Project has taught me that every programme, inspection and engineering decision shapes water security, economic growth and opportunities for future generations. I lead with curiosity, precision and integrity, embracing every opportunity to learn because engineering excellence is built through collaboration, continuous improvement and a commitment to creating infrastructure that leaves communities stronger than we found them.
Megan Schalkwyk
My professional superpower is creating a legacy beyond the projects I deliver. I advance South Africa's water security by driving innovation in water reuse, influencing governance, standards and collaboration across the sector. Through board leadership, university external examining and ECSA professional review panels, I help shape ethical leaders and competent engineers. I invest in lifelong learning, mentoring engineers and inspiring children to believe they that they can change the world through STEM. As a wife and mother, my purpose is deeply personal: to leave future generations with secure water, stronger institutions and a profession that is more capable than the one I inherited.
Marita van den Bergh
Professional Engineer
My engineering superpower is translating complex technical and regulatory requirements into practical, structured solutions. As a Professional Engineer in Computer Engineering, I have worked across control, automation and multidisciplinary engineering projects, while also leading engineering teams. I contribute to ECSA workgroups focused on the regulation and identification of engineering work and support engineers through assessment and mentorship. I also founded an engineering training company to provide accessible professional development across several engineering disciplines. My strength lies in understanding both the technical detail and the broader organisational context, and helping teams make clear, informed decisions.
Makomane Dorothea Lawretta Sekhoto
Professional Engineer
My professional superpower is bridging engineering and innovation to create lasting impact. From power station operations to transmission engineering and AI-driven research, I enjoy solving complex problems that strengthen South Africa's electricity network. Equally important to me is investing in people. Through mentoring, professional engagement, and encouraging young women to pursue engineering, I strive to show that excellence and leadership go hand in hand. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and leave the profession stronger than I found it.
Takalani Liphadzi
Professional Engineering Technologist
My professional superpower is transforming complex road infrastructure challenges into practical, sustainable engineering solutions while empowering the people around me. Throughout my career, I have managed major SANRAL and provincial road projects, applying sound engineering judgement, mentoring site teams, and ensuring quality, safety, and compliance. I believe engineering is not only about delivering infrastructure but also about developing people and creating lasting community impact. By combining technical expertise with leadership and collaboration, I have helped deliver projects that improve mobility, strengthen communities, and inspire excellence within the engineering profession.
Koketso Mokwatlo
My professional superpower is resilience and determination. As a woman in electrical engineering, I have embraced every opportunity to learn, grow and contribute despite challenges. My experience in electrical metering, quality assurance, inspections and field operations has strengthened my technical skills and attention to detail. I believe engineering is about creating solutions that improve lives, and I am committed to continuous learning and excellence. I hope to inspire more young women to pursue engineering careers with confidence, knowing that perseverance, integrity and passion can open doors and make a lasting impact.
Khomotso Mashamaite
Candidate Engineer
Khomotso Mashamaite's professional superpower is her ability to transform complex engineering and operational challenges into sustainable business and environmental success. Currently acting as Turbine Engineering Manager, she combines technical expertise, engineering governance, and strategic leadership to deliver safe, compliant, and reliable plant performance. At Medupi Power Station, she led interventions that restored regulatory compliance, improved water-use efficiency, protected critical water resources, and mitigated environmental risks. Through collaboration, mentorship, and disciplined execution, she consistently drives performance recovery, strengthens technical capability, and implements sustainable solutions that create lasting value for the organisation, the environment, and the communities it serves. Her leadership, resilience, and commitment to excellence make her a true inspiration to women in engineering.
Makomane Dorothea Lawretta Sekhoto
Professional Engineering Technologist
My engineering superpower is seeing possibilities where others see problems. I transform complex infrastructure challenges into sustainable solutions by combining engineering expertise, research, innovation, and strategic leadership. As a registered Pr Tech Eng, PMI-CP certified professional, Chief Engineer, co-author of engineering research, and PhD candidate, I bridge academic knowledge with the planning, implementation, rehabilitation, maintenance, and lifecycle management of resilient municipal infrastructure. I am passionate about mentoring future engineers, advancing women in engineering, and leaving a legacy of innovation, service, and infrastructure that strengthens communities for generations.
Keitumetse Kgosi
I began my engineering journey in my own community, where my in service training ignited a deep passion for service, excellence, and meaningful impact. Studying Civil Engineering at VUT strengthened my commitment to using technical knowledge to uplift the places and people who shaped me. Today, as a Civil Engineering Technician, I approach every project with integrity, precision, and a drive to create sustainable solutions that improve lives. My work reflects resilience, purpose, and a belief that women in engineering are essential to South Africa’s future. I am proud to contribute, lead, and inspire through the profession I love.
Karshnee Chetty
Professional Engineer
My engineering superpower is transforming complex challenges into practical solutions that create lasting value for communities. Every project is an opportunity to improve lives, whether through delivering reliable water infrastructure or mentoring the next generation of engineers. I believe engineering is about more than technical excellence; it is about integrity, collaboration, and leaving every project better than you found it. My greatest achievement is knowing that the work I do today will continue serving communities for decades to come.
Khomotso Mashamaite
Candidate Engineer
My professional superpower is bringing structure, insight, and consistency to everything I do. As a Candidate Electronic Engineer in railway signalling, I enjoy analysing patterns, finding technical improvements, and turning complex tasks into clear action plans. Whether coordinating shutdowns, managing stakeholders, or supporting my team, I am known for being organised, dependable, and focused on delivery. I have adapted quickly to the rail industry and earned recognition for my commitment and results. I believe in helping others succeed and am passionate about creating an environment where women in engineering can grow, excel, and believe in their potential.
Itumeleng Mtebele
Professional Engineer
My professional superpower is never stop becoming – I am where I am today because someone believed in me. That belief became my responsibility. It inspires me to keep learning, to serve others and to create opportunities for people to grow. From Alexandra Township to becoming a Professional Engineer, I have learnt that success is not a destination, but a commitment to continuous growth and meaningful impact. Whether I am helping keep South Africa moving safely through railway signalling engineering, mentoring young professionals or contributing to my community, I strive to leave people, places and projects better than I found them. Engineering gave me a profession, but creating impact gave it purpose.
Huibregh van der Merwe
Professional Engineer
Huibre is the Head of the Engineering Planning Unit at the City of Cape Town. She leads this corporate engineering unit with the vision of improving the planning and designs conducted across the City of Cape Town’s capital construction portfolio. In addition to her leadership role, she heads up special projects at strategic City assets such as the stadium and other facilities where complex engineering is combined with and time-sensitive implementation in a highly visible environment. She recently led the upgrade of the DHL stadium lighting systems, including flood lights which is now the only FIFA certified lighting system in the Southern Hemisphere.
Feroza Lockhat
Professional Engineer
Feroza’s professional superpower is her rare ability to translate deep technical design insight into practical, high-impact strategic infrastructure procurement guidance. After eight years shaping stormwater systems, wastewater works and major urban redevelopments across South Africa and abroad, she has deliberately expanded her reach into urban mobility, water and waste challenges while mastering tender preparation and contracts management at the City of Cape Town.She mentors junior engineers, streamlines construction procurement processes and consistently elevates project standards through collaboration. Her quiet determination to turn complex problems into workable, well-governed solutions inspires those around her and strengthens the profession’s contribution to a more resilient Cape Town.
Dr Yolandie Richards
Professional Engineer
Yolandie’s “superpower" is her ability to drive massive organizational impact through large-scale process optimisation training. She is the developer and facilitator of a Bank’s Process Engineering Training Capability and trained over 11 000 white, 6800 yellow, and 800 Green Belts. She certified over 800 projects, which inspires a culture of continuous improvement and defined how process engineering is executed at scale. She shapes the field of process engineering and inspires countless professionals by transforming individual expertise into a scalable organizational capability. Also, the winner of the 2026 Dino Petrarolo Emerging Economics Doctoral Dissertation Award for Africa & the Middle East.
Dr Natisha Gareeb
Professional Engineer
My professional superpower is transforming engineering expertise into lasting impact through ethical leadership, governance and innovation. As Chairperson of the ECSA Investigation Committee and a Governing Council Member, I lead with integrity, fairness and disciplined execution ensuring accountability while empowering practitioners to rise to their highest potential. I bring a unique blend of technical depth, regulatory insight and people centred leadership, enabling systems to work better, teams to collaborate stronger and the profession to evolve with confidence. I am committed to shaping an engineering ecosystem that is ethical, inclusive and future ready.
Huibregh van der Merwe
Professional Engineer
Huibre is the Head of the Engineering Planning Unit at the City of Cape Town. She leads this corporate engineering unit with the vision of improving the planning and designs conducted across the City of Cape Town’s capital construction portfolio. In addition to her leadership role, she heads up special projects at strategic City assets such as the stadium and other facilities where complex engineering is combined with and time-sensitive implementation in a highly visible environment. She recently led the upgrade of the DHL stadium lighting systems, including flood lights which is now the only FIFA certified lighting system in the Southern Hemisphere.
Feroza Lockhat
Professional Engineer
Feroza’s professional superpower is her rare ability to translate deep technical design insight into practical, high-impact strategic infrastructure procurement guidance. After eight years shaping stormwater systems, wastewater works and major urban redevelopments across South Africa and abroad, she has deliberately expanded her reach into urban mobility, water and waste challenges while mastering tender preparation and contracts management at the City of Cape Town.She mentors junior engineers, streamlines construction procurement processes and consistently elevates project standards through collaboration. Her quiet determination to turn complex problems into workable, well-governed solutions inspires those around her and strengthens the profession’s contribution to a more resilient Cape Town.
Dr Yolandie Richards
Professional Engineer
Yolandie’s “superpower" is her ability to drive massive organizational impact through large-scale process optimisation training. She is the developer and facilitator of a Bank’s Process Engineering Training Capability and trained over 11 000 white, 6800 yellow, and 800 Green Belts. She certified over 800 projects, which inspires a culture of continuous improvement and defined how process engineering is executed at scale. She shapes the field of process engineering and inspires countless professionals by transforming individual expertise into a scalable organizational capability. Also, the winner of the 2026 Dino Petrarolo Emerging Economics Doctoral Dissertation Award for Africa & the Middle East.