DURBAN – As we celebrate women this August, South African oil company Engen has saluted Durban female plant supervisor for her 18 years of service and rising through the ranks in a male-dominated industry.
Siza Khwela, a single mother of three girls who grew up in Unit 3, a small township near Hammarsdale in Mpumalanga, is a plant supervisor at the Engen Refinery in South Durban.
Engen said Women’s Month affords South Africans time to step back and deeply reflect on the incredible contribution made by the mothers, sisters and daughters among us that all ensure the stability, progress and long-term development of our beautiful country.
“For Engen, August being Women’s Month, is the perfect time to acknowledge the skill and determination of a powerhouse such as Khwela.”
Khwela studied chemical engineering at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) followed by a new managers’ development programme qualification at the University of Stellenbosch.
“From that moment on, I knew that the world was my oyster and I could do and be anything that I put my mind to,” she said.
After qualifying, she applied for a learnership programme at Engen.
“I took a calculated risk and left the position I was in and joined Engen as a trainee on a one-year learnership programme. Thereafter I was offered a permanent position as a process technician and the rest, as they say, is history,” she said.
In her career spanning 18 years, Engen said Khwela managed to land two highly sought-after promotions in an oil refining environment that has historically largely been dominated by males.
Khwela said she was extremely proud to reach a career milestone when she became Engen’s first female process control technician.
“As part of the promotion I was sent to Malaysia to learn from our parent company Petronas, who are one of the world’s leading oil and gas companies. My achievement was celebrated by all my colleagues and our CEO, which made me proud,” she said.
Khwela said women should rise up and to never underestimate their worth.
She said this month is the perfect time for women to take stock and think about their lives.
For Khwela, taking time to do this ensures that she’s on track with her career and to celebrate and reflect on women's achievements, especially in the struggle for freedom, and the important role that they continue to play in broader society.
“As our passions change along our journey, it’s good to check in with yourself and make sure that you are on the right path with your dreams and goals.
“We all spend so much time at work so doing something that I love is very important to me because when I’m happy there is a ripple effect on my entire team and everyone’s energy levels increase,” she said.
The single mother, who is raising her late sister’s three female children, hopes that South Africa women unite and fight gender-based violence.
“Let’s stop blaming and shaming each other but rather support each other’s dreams because South Africa has more than enough opportunities for all women,” said Khwela.
Khwela describes what she does to relax and and relieve stress.
“I’m obsessed with gym especially step classes and Hi-Lo aerobics, where I sweat out all that stress in no time, and I also enjoy watching my favourite cooking shows like ’MasterChef Australia’ and ‘Gomora’, which makes me laugh out loud like it’s nobody’s business!”
THE MERCURY