Timber iQ August - September 2017 // Issue: 33 | Page 38

FEATURES
Women conquering
the timber world
The timber industry may still be considered an industry mostly
dominated by men, however women are making a name for
themselves alongside their male counterparts.
By Dineo Phoshoko
IZELQUE BOTHA, INSTITUTE FOR TIMBER
CONSTRUCTION – ROOF INSPECTOR
1. WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL?
Since 2012 I have been inspecting and certifying
residential roofs. I also do environmental consulting
and social impact assessments alongside the roof
inspections.
2. HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE TIMBER INDUSTRY?
My mentor, Andre van der Kolff, from Northern Roof
Inspections, realised my interest in the construction
industry and encouraged me to go for the roof
inspection course. I have never looked back.
3. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY?
I am generally interested in the construction
industry and the theory behind how things are
constructed. It just seemed natural to get involved as
an inspector.
4. WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES OF GETTING INTO
THE INDUSTRY? 7.
It’s a man’s world as they say. In general people are
surprised when they hear a woman picking up the
phone when looking for an inspector or see a woman
8.
visiting the site for a roof inspection.
5. HOW ACCOMMODATING WAS THE INDUSTRY WHEN
YOU STARTED?
I must say, I found it to be quite accommodating.
Still, there is some level of discrimination against
women in the industry. I am the only female
9.
registered roof inspector in Limpopo and people
notice. Sometimes people would consider women to
be a ‘walk-over’ and think we are easier to convince
to look the other way, so that is still sometimes a
challenge.
Izelque Botha, the only female roof inspector in
Limpopo province to date. Image: Juan Botha
HOW DO MALE COLLEAGUES REACT TOWARDS YOU?
In general, I have great support from colleagues.
WHAT KEPT YOU MOTIVATED TO KEEP GOING
DURING DIFFICULT TIMES?
My mentor and my own drive to ensure that women
obtain equal rights in the construction industry, and
still maintain their status as women by bringing their
own unique views to the construction industry.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACHIEVE WITHIN THE
INDUSTRY?
I would like to see better support of registered and
qualified roof inspectors and an increase in roof
structures certified by such inspectors. I would like
to see more support from government, particularly
municipalities, by encouraging the use of ITC-SA
registered and qualified roof inspectors.
6. AS A FEMALE INSPECTOR, WHAT IS THE REACTION
OF COLLEAGUES AND CLIENTS TOWARDS YOU IN
YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT? 10. ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER WOMEN ASPIRING TO
My mentor introduced me to most of my clients.
WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY?
They are therefore generally respectful of me. They
Go for it! We will never achieve change if we don’t
also know the quality of my work as I am quite strict
push for it. Some of us must be the pioneers of the
when I find that things aren’t as they should be.
change, so that others can follow. The time is now.
36 AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2017 //