History at SAPREF is being rewritten. For the first time in SAPREF’s 53-year history, each of the five zones now has a female Production Team Leader.

 

 Marlynee Nadasen (North Zone), Prebashnee Moodley (Central Zone), Thobile Sishange (South Zone)  and Lucia Govender (OMUTDE) are blazing a trail after years of training and working at the refinery. All of them are home-grown, having joined SAPREF as trainees. 

 

Charity, who joined SAPREF in 2000, has been at the company the longest of the five Production Team Leaders. She was promoted to Team Leader in 2014. She says: “For me, leadership is about mapping out where we need to go  and then inspiring and exciting people as we create the future together. I am very grateful to everyone who has played a role in my development.” Lucia concurred, saying, “We have made history as pioneering women of SAPREF. Each of us has a unique way of handling situations, and this diversity can contribute positively to the company’s success.”

 

A delighted John van Belkum, SAPREF’s Production Manager, applauded this milestone and emphasised that the female Team Leaders had earned their stripes. He said, “Through hard work, dedication and determination, these Team Leaders have shattered the glass ceiling in this predominantly male environment. I am honoured to have been part of their developmental journey. But this is not the end of the road. Watch this space for the day when we appoint our first female shift manager.”

 

Human Resources Manager Lindiwe Khuzwayo, who herself was SAPREF’s first female HR Manager, congratulated the Team Leaders, saying, “This is a proud moment for all of us at SAPREF.”

 

Ton Wielers, Managing Director, lamented the fact that it had taken SAPREF so long to reach this milestone. “It has taken us too long to get to this point but we celebrate the fact that this moment has arrived at last. We know that diverse organisations are successful organisations and we are proud to have this exceptional representation of our first females in Production leadership. They are now role models for the younger women in our organisation and are able to bring their individual perspective and management style to the table.”

 

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