This is according to the Free State Department of Water and Sanitation’s Priscilla Mohapi, who earlier told OFM News that in efforts to promote more women in the water sector, the provincial department will now embark on a series of activities to raise the profile of careers and business opportunities available for women in this sector. Mohapi says the Department will deliver a campaign targeted at women across the province so that they may learn of the opportunities available within the sector, which they will also be able to participate in and derive an income from.

OFM News has previously reported that on Monday 19 August, the department will host a Women in Business Construction Workshop in Bloemfontein at the Lesley Monnanyane Hall from 10:00. The workshop will be held under the theme “25 Years of Democracy: Growing South Africa together for Women’s Emancipation”, in line with Women’s Month Activities. Following this workshop, as it celebrates Women’s Month, the Department’s Mojee Kumang, explains that teams will then take to various towns in the province to further promote and encourage women, including those currently attending school, to pursue careers in the water sector. “On the 21st, we will take to HTS Louis Botha Technical High School, where we will be engaging with female Grade 10 learners at the school and capacitate them on the opportunities available in Water and Sanitation. While we are there, we will also be advocating for these learners to take Mathematics and Science as part of their school subject, so that they’ll be able to pursue careers as water technicians, scientists, and engineers, as these currently have a shortage of women in them,” Kumang elaborates.

As part of the department’s visit to the Bloemfontein school, she also adds that the learners will be introduced to the graduates, who are currently in training at the provincial department, so that they offer their personal accounts on what courses they took and how working in the industry is. A day later, Kumang says the departmental team will then take to Springfontein, where they will embark on an awareness campaign on the dangers of illegal water connections and water leaks. “We are again specifically targeting women because we’ve found that women are some of the main users of water. On this day, we are hoping to show the women of that community that illegal water connections are not good for the community and have far-reaching consequences. Through this session, we hope to minimize and reducing this scourge, using women as the main drivers for this campaign,” Kumang says.

As the provincial department concludes its month-long campaign, Kumang adds that on Monday 26 August, the last town that the department will visit is Bothaville, where members of the farming community will be engaged. “Female farmers will be given information on water rights, usage and application licences. Emerging farmers, commercial farmers, and prospective farmers will all receive information on the importance of receiving water rights, how to apply for licences and all that information will be provided,” Kumang adds. She concludes that there will also be a programme that will promote the use of rainwater harvesting as a substitute to using tap water provided by the local municipalities from which these farmers operate. She says this final event will be held in conjunction with the provincial department of Agriculture.

OFM News