Anele Ndimande, a 23-year-old from Bonela in Cato Manor, is making waves in the male-dominated plumbing industry in South Africa. Despite facing numerous challenges, including growing up in a family that struggled to make ends meet, Ndimande has qualified as a plumber, facilitator, assessor, first aider, and work-at-height safety harness inspector.
Her journey to success began when she was just a young girl, growing up in a family of six. After her parents lost their jobs, the family had to rely on SASSA grants to survive. Ndimande recalls having to be resourceful to make ends meet, often saving the little money she received to buy snacks and sell them to her fellow learners at school. This early experience taught her the value of entrepreneurship and hard work.
From Humble Beginnings to Plumbing Success
Ndimande’s fascination with plumbing started when she was growing up near municipal water meters in her community. She would watch as municipal workers repaired damaged meters, and she became determined to learn how it all worked. After matric, she enrolled to study plumbing and later completed three years of in-service training before qualifying in her early twenties.
Today, Ndimande is the owner of Lukasi Projects Pty Ltd, a plumbing company that handles domestic, commercial, and industrial plumbing work across KwaZulu-Natal. Her company offers a range of services, including geyser installations, bathroom renovations, maintenance services, and leak detection. According to the Women’s Net website, women like Ndimande are paving the way for others to enter the plumbing industry, which has traditionally been male-dominated.
Breaking Down Barriers in the Industry
Ndimande’s experience in the industry has not been without its challenges. She recalls working on a construction site where she was the only female employee and was assigned physically demanding labor tasks for weeks. However, she persevered and is now determined to help other young people, particularly women, enter the industry. She has taught plumbing at Westville Correctional Services Medium C and has helped train eThekwini Municipality plumbing learners.
As a qualified plumber and facilitator, Ndimande is passionate about skills development and is dreaming of launching a mobile training college that will bring practical skills directly into underserved communities. She believes that by providing young people with the skills they need, she can help them build a better future for themselves and their families. For more information on plumbing training programs, visit the Department of Higher Education and Training website.
Some of the services offered by Ndimande’s company include:
- Geyser installations
- Bathroom renovations
- Maintenance services
- Leak detection
Ndimande’s story is an inspiration to many young people, particularly women, who are looking to enter the plumbing industry. Her determination and perseverance have paid off, and she is now a successful business owner and role model in her community.
