Women in Plumbing: Baleseng Patricia Letube

By Megan O’Connor

Throughout August, Plumbing Africa is celebrating the women making their mark on the plumbing industry. From plumbers and business owners to leaders, specialists, educators and industry professionals, this series shines a light on the women whose skills, determination and experience are helping to shape the future of plumbing. Here, we shine a spotlight on Baleseng Patricia Letube, who did her training and Watersmith Training Centre and Cobra Water Tech, and has been in the industry for 12 years.

Baleseng Patricia Letube.
Supplied by Baleseng Patricia Letube

Baleseng currently works at Hydro-Artisan, as a director. The company is based in Midrand, and through it, she has been part of several impressive projects, including working as a subcontractor for Standard Bank Insurance as well as five different construction jobs that were built from scratch. But it wasn’t always plumbing that had her heart.  

“Growing up, I actually wanted to be a Civil Engineer,” she explains. “But one day the opportunity came about to be part of the industry and I grabbed it – even though I had no knowledge about plumbing or the industry.”

“What made me stay in plumbing was realising that it is more than just fixing pipes – it is a profession that solves real problems and improves people’s lives. Once I had the opportunity to work in the trade, I discovered that I enjoyed the practical nature of the work, learning new skills, and seeing the results of my efforts. Plumbing also gave me the opportunity to build a business, create employment, and make a positive impact in my community. Those opportunities motivated me to stay and continue growing in the industry,” Baleseng explains.

But it hasn’t always been easy being a woman in a male-dominated field. “I was once told that women should be busy in the kitchen, not out in the field doing plumbing,” she explains. “But I laughed it off – those kinds of comments don’t hurt me.”

Her most memorable moment on the job

“When I started my apprenticeship, the supervisor gave me a hammer and chisel to start work… It was a disaster!”

As for her motto when plumbing, Baleseng simply says: “Winners never lose, and losers never win – I always make sure I give 100%.”