By Eamonn Ryan
Speaking at the SADC RAC (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning) interactive workshop in November, Lutendo Ndhlovu, representing the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), outlined the programme. This is Part 3 of a five-part series.
Delegates at the SADC RAC (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning) interactive workshop in November. © RACA Journal
The long-term goal of the initiative is to mainstream gender policies in training activities across the entire sector. By ensuring that gender equality is embedded in training curricula, recruitment practices and industry standards, the programme seeks to promote gender balance and increase female representation in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry.
The initiative aligns with South Africa’s broader efforts to empower women in traditionally male-dominated sectors and create a more inclusive economy. By providing women with the necessary skills, tools, and support, the programme is not just transforming the lives of individual technicians but also contributing to the wider gender equality agenda.
A model for sustainable change
This initiative represents a significant step forward in empowering female technicians in South Africa’s informal sector. By providing training, tools and ongoing support, the programme is helping women gain formal recognition in an industry that has long been male-dominated. Moreover, the focus on environmentally friendly practices and climate-friendly refrigerants ensures that these technicians will play a vital role in shaping the future of the refrigeration and air conditioning sector in South Africa.
As the initiative expands and more women are trained and empowered, it will contribute not only to gender equality but also to the creation of a more sustainable, professional and inclusive refrigeration and air conditioning industry in South Africa and beyond. Through continued collaboration and support, this initiative has the potential to become a model for similar empowerment programmes in other regions of SADC.
Strengthening female participation through expanded training and networks for the future
Ndhlovu continued by emphasising the importance of investing in tools and resources for female technicians. The initiative’s focus on providing well-equipped training toolboxes—complete with both large and smaller items—ensures that technicians can service equipment in an environmentally friendly manner. By offering technicians the right tools and qualification cards, the programme has made it clear that there is no excuse for not adhering to sustainable practices. Ndhlovu highlighted that this kind of investment is vital to ensuring the technicians’ success, as they return to their work with the full support needed to make a positive environmental impact.
However, despite the success of training 88 female technicians in its first phase, Ndhlovu underscored that much more needs to be done. The initial goal is to train 400 technicians, but this is only a starting point. To make a substantial impact, the programme needs to train more women and actively encourage greater participation in this field.
