As we close on the Women’s month, we continue to honour the remarkable women shaping our institution and communities. We shine the spotlight on Ms Cynthia Noxolo Tiwani, who has been appointed as the Facilities Manager at Welkom Campus.

Growing up in the Eastern Cape as the only girl among four brothers, Ms Tiwani’s journey into engineering was far from conventional. “When I told my family I wanted to study engineering, they were shocked, no one around me knew anything about the field,” she recalls. Her passion for engineering was sparked by a moment of curiosity when she heard someone speaking on the radio and wondered how a person could be heard through that medium. That question ignited a fascination with technology and communication, leading her into a field where few women venture, and she has never looked back.

With over 20 years of technical experience, Ms Tiwani is a seasoned Engineering Technologist with a rich background in the maritime industry, rolling stock, and facilities management. Her expertise spans mechanical and electrical engineering, and she holds an honours degree in Electrical Engineering. She has led teams, coordinated projects, and overseen the maintenance and upgrading of complex systems, including HVAC, electrical infrastructure, and water treatment plants.

Now in the higher education sector, she brings her wealth of experience to the Estates and Infrastructure Department, where she leads day-to-day maintenance operations. “Our priority is to ensure that the academic and student environments are functional, safe, and comfortable,” she says. She has already introduced a system to improve internal accountability and service delivery.

Ms Tiwani is also passionate about mentorship and skills development. “We rely heavily on interns, and many of them arrive without mentors or guidance. I’ve taken it upon myself to coach them, not just in technical skills, but in confidence and professionalism.” She believes that minor services should be handled in-house and is actively working to build a skilled internal team, including artisans who can monitor and manage outsourced services effectively.

A strong advocate for TVET college graduates, Ms Tiwani challenges the stigma often attached to technical education. “Most of what I know, I learned from people who came through TVET colleges. They are skilled, practical, and deserve recognition. Universities should embrace and collaborate with them more.”

Her leadership style is grounded in teamwork, knowledge-sharing, and purpose-driven service. “Our role in facilities is to serve people. If we can start measuring ourselves internally and respond to stakeholder feedback daily, we can create a truly supportive environment.”

Ms Tiwani’s story is one of resilience, passion, and quiet revolution. In a field still dominated by men, she is not only holding her own but also lifting others as she rises.