Women’s Month: SANDF celebrates women in their Engineer Squadron under Operation Chariot

Durban — The SANDF celebrates its Engineer Squadron women’s role in the mission under Operation Chariot during Women’s Month.

The Engineer Squadron is also supported by other women from other corps and ensures that the mission goals are achieved.

Sapper Makoto Charity Nkoana, water purification bottling plant, has a National Diploma in Civil Engineering, together with Sapper Sehaneleng Baloyi, with an N3 in Chemical Plant Operation. Pictures: Staff Sergeant Mpho Ezekiel Rantlhoatlhoa and Corporal Lorraine Choma.

The SANDF’s Captain Tshegofatso Gwai reported that women in the engineering field’s daily job specifications include those working in construction sites and water points, “executing with zeal and with bravery” road and infrastructure repairs, bridge rehabilitation and water purification for communities affected by the mid-April floods in KwaZulu-Natal.

Gwai said women driving heavy construction machines and building bridges are not a norm in our society, so these capabilities often shock local communities.

Lance Corporal Makhura, construction machine operator, Higher Certificate in Law. Pictures: Staff Sergeant Mpho Ezekiel Rantlhoatlhoa and Corporal Lorraine Choma.

The women artisans, such as electricians, boiler makers, welders and locksmiths, continue to render their expert services in the mission. Photography also plays a vital role in capturing the moments and storytelling of the work done by their fellow soldiers. Photographers from the Engineer Terrain Intelligence Regiment from Pretoria are deployed to capture and archive photographic evidence in the history files of the Engineers Corp, Gwai said.

Corporal Lorraine Choma, photographer, Diploma in Photography. Pictures: Staff Sergeant Mpho Ezekiel Rantlhoatlhoa and Corporal Lorraine Choma.

“Since the deployment of the Engineer Squadron in mid-April 2022 for disaster relief, women have defied the narrative that ‘women belong to the kitchen’, as generally engineering work is ‘man, equipment and machinery heavy’, thus many people assume that women cannot withstand the pressure that comes with the workload on the ground,” Gwai said.

Sapper Aphelele Bam, water purification sachet plant, Military Water Purification course qualified. Pictures: Staff Sergeant Mpho Ezekiel Rantlhoatlhoa and Corporal Lorraine Choma.

“These women in the military have proved that they can be anything they dream in the military and are not limited to gender stereotypes. They are an epitome of excellence, discipline, hard work and indeed ‘education is the most powerful weapon which can change the world’.”

Gwai said the engineering capabilities or trades are within the SA Army Engineer Formation.

Sapper Kehilwe Charlotte Modungwa, qualified plumber and field Sapper. Pictures: Staff Sergeant Mpho Ezekiel Rantlhoatlhoa and Corporal Lorraine Choma.

Women in uniform are continually empowered through Military Engineer courses presented at the School of Engineers in Kroonstad, in the Free State. Some are also sent to school to qualify in trades they are interested in, while others join already qualified with varied tertiary qualifications from academic Institutions, Gwai said.

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