Women in Plumbing: Veronica Ntho

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 Veronica Ntho, plumber at Joy of Plumbing, and ask why she chose plumbing as her career.

Veronica Ntho.
© Plumbing Africa

Veronica has been involved in the plumbing industry for five years now, but it wasn’t always plumbing that was her calling.

Originally, Veronica’s dream was to become a mechanical engineer and work for the big companies – such as Sasol, Komatsu or Nampak.

But that dream changed when she realised the necessity of plumbing in her home. “We had a toilet leak, and we knew that if we didn’t place a container beneath the pan connector, our bathroom would flood.” And when she received the call to become a plumber, Veronica instantly thought of that situation at home and didn’t hesitate to accept the offer.

But her career hasn’t always been as simple as her decision to become a plumber. She has had some household members record a video of her hoisting a geyser with another plumber – they simply couldn’t believe what they saw. “Others told me, ‘As a man, I wouldn’t allow a lady to work in my house’.” In fact, her team had to leave one job because the customer refused to let them in because there was a woman on the team. So how did she get through this?

“The team I was working with also had to support me on site and they told the client that I am also a plumber and there are things I have to lead them on, but the client still refused. The following day, we went back and I had to assure the client that if he is not comfortable to see me doing my job, he could be part of the team and work with us. He said he would rather hold the step ladder for me, and he did. When he saw me inside the ceiling receiving the geyser, he went to the lead plumber and apologised, and when I came out of the ceiling, he personally apologised to me and told me that he saw that I can do my job. Then he gave us some refreshments.”

This is Veronica’s mindset when tough situations occur on the job: “On my side, I make sure I stand my ground as a plumber. No one has the right to tell me I cannot do what I have been trained to do as my profession.” This mindset goes hand-in-hand with her motto she lives by when working on site – delivering quality service at customers’ doorsteps.