Edited 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 Sindiswa Schoeman – a passionate plumber whose love for plumbing grew after school, driven by her fascination of water systems.
Sindiswa Schoeman.
All images supplied by Sindiswa Schoeman
Sindiswa at work.
Sindiswa Schoeman did her plumbing training at BluLever Education, completing both theoretical and practical training. Although currently exploring her options, she worked for Dreycor Plumbing as part of her practical training. 2026 marks her third year in the plumbing industry.
Plumbing wasn’t always what she thought her career would be. In high school, she considered three career options, including teaching, civil engineering and fashion design. But it was after school that plumbing piqued her interest.
“I fell in love with plumbing after matric, which led me to pursue civil engineering with a focus on trade. I was fascinated by how water travels from treatment plants to our homes, and I wanted to understand the whole process. Knowing that plumbing is a male-dominated field motivated me even more, and I was also driven by a desire to make a difference in my community, where clean water scarcity is a real and serious issue. I wanted to learn how to reduce water wastage and help improve access to water the right way.”
When doing plumbing work, she lives by this motto: Do the job right the first time, if it’s done right, it will last longer.
| Sindiswa’s advice to anyone looking at plumbing as a career
“My advice is to stay curious, respect the trade, and understand the impact your work has on people’s daily lives. Plumbing isn’t just about pipes – it’s about health, water conservation, and service to the community. If you’re committed, it can open many doors.” |
Her funniest moment on the job
“One of the funniest moments on site was when we were connecting a water line using an HDPE pipe. I underestimated how quickly the pipe would cut, and as soon as it went through, the municipal water burst out and soaked me completely from head to toe. Everyone on site, including my supervisor, couldn’t stop laughing – and neither could I. It was a good reminder to always expect the unexpected in plumbing.”
