Bay News 19 August 2016 Vol 8.4._Mock-Up For Pagingpdf
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Women in a Man’s World<br />
and democratic country and women are<br />
allowed to work in any industry.<br />
Kayakazi: It’s exciting and empowering.<br />
I don’t feel different, to me it’s a normal<br />
job, because am doing what I love doing.<br />
Most importantly, my male and female<br />
colleagues are very accommodating and<br />
we have a nice working relationship.<br />
What are some of the challenges you<br />
face at work?<br />
Thozama: I think there are some men who<br />
have not fully accepted today’s changes<br />
and the fact that we are all equal, saying<br />
that they will not be pushed around by a<br />
woman.<br />
Celebrating Women’s Month this week,<br />
we feature municipal women employees<br />
who are doing work in a predominantly<br />
male dominated environment. We chatted<br />
with Thozama Cikizwa (far right)<br />
and Kayakazi Nkangeni (left), who work<br />
as Horticulturists at the Hillside Depot<br />
in the Parks Department of the Nelson<br />
Mandela <strong>Bay</strong> Municipality.<br />
How does it feel to work in a so-called<br />
male dominated industry?<br />
Thozama: It’s a very good feeling, because<br />
in the olden days, women were not<br />
allowed to work in the mines nor drive a<br />
car and so on, but today we are in a free<br />
What are some of the rewards and<br />
what did you learn from your male colleagues?<br />
Kayakazi: They make you feel comfortable<br />
and are easy going, as much as they<br />
sometimes don’t want to open up. I have<br />
learned a lot of things from them that<br />
assist me in my career.<br />
In this day and age, why is female equality<br />
important in the work-place?<br />
Thozama: Women are contributing to<br />
the economy of this country and they<br />
need to be given a chance and be respected<br />
by male colleagues.<br />
Kayakazi: Females fought against oppression<br />
and male domination in the<br />
work-place. We deserve to be where we<br />
are as women.<br />
What message of encouragement or<br />
advice would you give to young women<br />
who want to be in the type of industry<br />
that you are in?<br />
Thozama: To those young females who<br />
aspire to be where we are, I say that<br />
through hard work and dedication, one<br />
can achieve great things in life.<br />
Kayakazi: I would like to say to those<br />
young women that nothing is impossible.<br />
If you love what you are doing, you<br />
will achieve success. However, they need<br />
to empower themselves and acquire the<br />
necessary skills to achieve the goals they<br />
have set for themselves in this particular<br />
industry.<br />
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