Portia Maposse is a young black woman who is gradually invading a traditionally male-dominated field.

The 25-year-old is a systems engineer at the Gibela Rail Transport Consortium in Nigel, Gauteng. Gibela is a black economic empowerment (BEE) rail transport consortium comprising Alstom and uBumbano Rail.

It was established in 2013, as a ring-fenced company to build new trains for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA). This contract is meant to deliver 600 trainsets to PRASA and provide technical support and related services.

She joined Gibela in 2023 as a process manufacturing engineering intern and worked her way up to becoming a systems engineer in 2024, bringing her dream to fruition.

“The journey started at the technical high school I attended where I chose the mechanical technology stream. Then at the University of South Africa (UNISA) I pursued Mechanical Engineering,” she told SAnews.

SAnews visited the consortium’s train manufacturing facility in Dunnottor, Nigel, in celebration of the Decade of the Artisan with special focus on female artisans.

According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, the campaign aims to encourage more young people (high school learners and unemployed youth) to see artisanship as a career of choice.

Asked about her feelings in working in what is considered a male-dominated industry, she said: “Women are now leading in the industry. Always keep in mind that results matter and that women are more powerful.”

Gibela has a staff compliment of over 1 200 with women making 43% of the workforce. – Source SAnews.gov.za