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 Thando Phukuntsi, who we caught up with at Plumbing Indaba 2026.
When you meet Noluthando “Thando” Happiness Phukuntsi, one thing quickly becomes clear: she has never allowed being a woman in a male-dominated industry to stop her from pursuing a career in plumbing.
Supplied by Noluthando Phukuntsi
Today, Thando is an Artisan Assistant at Rand Water, one of South Africa’s largest water utilities. Getting there has been a journey of training, hands-on experience and consistently proving herself in the field.
Her journey into plumbing
Her career by studying Civil Engineering, which she is currently studying further. She then gained practical experience before completing her trade test in 2017 and qualifying as a plumber.
She also became a facilitator, assessor and moderator, working at different training centres and mentoring students as they gained practical experience.
Eventually, however, she wanted to spend more time in the field.
She moved into site work, including a position with the Ntombani Group subcontractors at Sasol head offices – a large area that relied on a small number of plumbers.
“They put all their trust in me,” she says.
Her career later took her to the CSIR, where she worked as an artisan. It was during this time that she crossed paths with Rand Water, later joining the organisation as its only female plumber.
Noluthando Phukuntsi.
© Plumbing Africa
The bumps along the road
Being the only woman in the team has not always been easy, but Thando says this experience has helped her grow professionally.
For her, being involved in the industry is also about learning from others and building relationships. Industry events and boards give plumbers the opportunity to share experiences, ask questions and find solutions to problems.
“Coming here to events like the Plumbing Indaba, also helps you communicate and find some new ideas. If you’ve got a problem, you make new connections who have solutions.”
Her experience in the field has also changed the way she is viewed by those around her.
“Now they don’t see me as just a woman anymore, they see me as a plumber.”
Challenges facing plumbers
While Thando has earned respect in the industry from her male colleagues, she says there are still challenges as a woman in the Industry, particularly when it comes to callout work.
She has experienced situations where customers ask her to do a job, only to question payment once she has arrived and solved the problem.
“Sometimes they’ll say, ‘Oh, you’re a plumber! Can you please come to my house and do this for me.’ Then you’ll go there, solve the problem, and they will say something along the lines of ‘Oh, we didn’t prepare money to pay you because we were not sure that you would actually be able to do the job.’”
For Thando, this is more than simply an issue of payment – it is about recognising the value of a plumber’s time, skills and experience.
“That’s the only challenge we are still facing now, and it’s really hard.”
It is an issue she believes plumbers need to stand firm on, particularly when customers expect their expertise without being prepared to pay for it.
“We are like doctors – water doctors”
Thando has found that being registered and involved in the industry has helped her establish herself as a professional, helping her stand firm on being paid for all of the work she does.
“Now I tell them that I’m registered with PIRB, and I’m part of the Plumbing Africa Advisory Group, so they can’t take me for granted.”
For Thando, the comparison is simple: plumbers are professionals providing a skilled service, and their time should be treated accordingly.
“If you are going to the doctor, you will pay at the reception before you see the doctor.”
It is not necessarily about demanding full payment upfront. Rather, she wants customers to understand that calling a plumber out comes with a cost.
“Because when you go to doctor, you don’t say, ‘Doctor, I’m sorry. I didn’t have money to pay you because I was too sick’.”
Her message to women considering plumbing
Despite the challenges, Thando has no regrets about choosing plumbing as a career.
Her advice to women considering entering the trade is straightforward: “Once you are in plumbing, you’re not going to look for a job. The job is going to look for you.”
This reflects Thando’s own career: she started with her studies, qualified as a plumber, gained experience in training and on site, and continued building her career until she became an Artisan Assistant at Rand Water.
For women considering a career in plumbing, her journey shows that plumbing offers a space to grow, develop, and make a name for yourself.
| Thando’s story is about knowing your value as a professional – and making sure others recognise it too. |
