June 2013 - Department of Defence

focus on careersS A S O L D I E RMay 2010. She admitted that,although it was exciting to be atelecommunications operatorand a woman in the submarine,it had its own challenges. To be atelecommunications operator meanshaving to communicate with theoutside world while under water,which requires special skills. This canbe a daunting task, as failure to do hertasks professionally and effectivelycan literally lead to the submarinebeing lost at sea as a submarine cannotbe easily located. She added that it isimperative to keep abreast of the latesttelecommunications technology at alltimes and that she is passionate abouther job and enjoys it tremendously.This helps to “keep her on her toes”.For CPO Van den Heever the allconsumingdesire to be a submarinerwas ignited by her insatiable quest toexplore. Simply put, she just wantedto be somewhere she had never beenbefore. She had been on land, in theair and on the water. But she had notbeen under water and that becamesomething she wanted to experience.Little did she know that her desire toexplore was to change into a career.Asked if she was not intimidated byworking in this unconventional andmale dominated environment sheexplained that the same principle ofmutual respect, regardless of gender,applied in the submarine just asanywhere else.Cooking in a submarineCPO Chetty, one of the pioneer womenon board the submarine, concurredwith CPO Van den Heever and said:“Working in a submarine as a womantakes courage and serious introspectionas most colleagues will be men. As aminority, women cannot expect all mento change their general behaviour, so awoman has to adapt and keep an openmind”.Everyday luxuries that a womanmight want to have to live comfortablyunder normal circumstances are eitherlimited or not provided for in thesubmarine. The long periods spentsubmerged can pose a challenge toanyone not psychologically prepared,as a submarine becomes one’s homeand one has to make do with what’sprovided. She was quick to add thather assertion in this regard was by nomeans a conviction that conditionsin the submarine were ghastly andthat it was uninhabitable for women,but on the contrary it could be quitecomfortable though not in any waylike a conventional home.It does not mean that in a maledominated environment a womanhas to lose her femininity. Minoradjustments are required to adjust tosubmarine living conditions, such asthe limited time spent in the ablutionfacilities because both genders use thesame facilities, always being awareof the presence of men and avoidingbehaviour that can be construed assexual or having sexual undertones.These are small adjustments that makelife under water bearable once one isused to it.Clearly these female submarinersrelish these challenges, and livingfearlessly without limits seems to bewhat drives their amphibious careers.“It is not about gender, but about thewill: where there is a will there is away,” they both asserted.2nd AnnualWomen In Road SafetyStrengthening The Role Of Women In Road SafetyDate: 1 & 2 August 2013Chief Director Management ServicesDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT EASTERN CAPEMember of Mayoral Committee: Corporate, HR and EducationSTEVE TSHWETE MUNICIPALITYDirector Public Safety and TransportMALUTI-A-PHOFUNG MUNICIPALITY - EASTERN FREESTATESenior Superintendent / Training ManagerDURBAN METRO POLICE SERVICE• Addressing The Challenges Within The Road SafetyImplementation Process• Looking At Measures To Combat Sexual Harassment In TheWorkplace• Creating A Culture Where Road Safety Is Everyone’sResponsibility• Gaining A Male Perspective On A Women’s Role In Road SafetyConfirmed Speakers Include:Senior Public ProsecutorNATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITYActing Director: HRMNORTH WEST PUBLIC SAFETYVenue: Gold Reef City Theme ParkConference Highlight:All delegates gainFREE entryto Gold Reef CityTheme ParkHead: Centre for Education in Traffic SafetyNORTH WEST UNIVERSITY (POTCHEFSTROOM CAMPUS)Regional ManagerSOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY SOC LTDNational ChairmanJUSTICE PROJECT SOUTH AFRICA (NPC)Key strategies to be discussed:• Handling Internal Conflict Professionally• Dealing With Difficult Motorists Or Difficult Individuals• Building A Stronger Force Through Stronger Prosecution• Working Together To Face The Challenges Of AMale Dominated Sector• Reaching 50/50 Women Targets WithinYour OrganisationFor more information contact Amrita on 011 326 2501 or email amrita@intelligencetransferc.co.zaQuote WIRS-mktSAS to claim your 10% discountResearched & Developed By:J U N E 2 0 1 3 • 27