trufm DHET 31 August 2026 Women in the STEM, Technical and Vocational Education careers S5 Episode 32Women are increasingly making their mark across STEM, technical, artisan, vocational and occupational careers. Through education, training, practical experience, mentorship and determination, young women are not only entering these spaces, but they are also helping to shape the future of South Africa’s economy.
But this conversation is not only about the opportunities that exist. It is about the women who have walked these paths, often entering spaces where women, particularly Black women, have historically been underrepresented.
We hear from one such woman, Lorraine Mooi, an award-winning licensed plumber, entrepreneur and Founder of The Plumbing Duchess. Lorraine holds a National Diploma in Financial Information Systems but made the deliberate decision to move into the plumbing trade, choosing a technical field where few women were working.
Her journey has taken her from becoming a qualified plumber to being recognised as a two-time Plumbing Industry Lady of the Year and an IDEAL Propeller Entrepreneur Award recipient. She now contributes to the industry through leadership and technical structures, including the Plumbing Industry Registration Board, IOPSA’s NATEXEC and SABS technical committees. She also serves as Vice President of the Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology, becoming the first woman and first Black woman to serve on its board.
Her story challenges us to rethink what a STEM career looks like, because STEM is not only about laboratories, computers and engineering degrees. It can also be found in the pipes beneath our cities, the infrastructure that delivers water and sanitation, and the skilled hands that keep our communities functioning.