Plumbing Africa March 2018 | Page 46

PERSONALITY PROFILE Plumbing with a purpose Most people choose a career where they can make a difference; Lesiba Thole decided on a career in the plumbing industry to realise his passion for saving water. By Dineo Phoshoko The 35-year-old is a driver and maintenance plumber at Modern Plumbing Works. He has been in the industry for the past 14 years — encountering some interesting experiences along the way. On one occasion, his client insisted that he should perform work that did not comply with standards. On a lighter note, one of Thole’s career highlights was repairing a huge burst pipe that required digging a big hole. He believes that the current state of the industry is satisfactory. “Everyone needs plumbing,” he says. He does think that improving the salary of plumbers is a change that needs to be made in the industry. When he is not busy, Thole enjoys spending time with his family. Being successful in the plumbing industry requires dedication and a lot of hard work. Thole explains that there are times when one will work long hours, which is not easy. He also mentions that plumbers need to be patient, because earning a decent salary in the industry takes time. Thole would one day like to become a qualified plumber and start his own plumbing busi