June 2025.

Two young women from the Northern Cape are gaining hands-on experience and developing essential skills as part of a team of cabling technicians at a local wind farm in Noupoort. Having initially trained through the Global Wind Organisation programme in 2022, Marshe Struasse (23) and Kezia Souw (26) have taken their careers to new heights, working on wind turbines and contributing to the site’s technical operations.

Now permanently employed as Junior Hoist Technicians with a third-party contractor appointed by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE), Marshe and Kezia first joined the Noupoort Wind Farm’s Cable Replacement Project in April, an SGRE-led initiative designed to improve the safety and efficiency of turbine operations.

“By supporting women in engineering, we’re not just opening doors to education and careers, we’re helping shape a more inclusive, skilled, and sustainable future in host communities. Investing in women means more than skills and employment; it’s about changing the face of the Renewable Energy industry, building more resilient communities, and fostering a sense of shared progress that benefits both people and planet,” explained Vanessa Fredericks, Economic Development Manager for Noupoort Wind Farm.

As hoisting technicians, the pair is responsible for all lifting work needed to pull new single-run cables through the turbine towers, replacing older cable joints that risk overheating. “We work at heights every day, ensuring tools and cables are safely lifted into the towers. It’s intense work but also very rewarding,” they explained.

Marshe and Kezia’s message to young women considering careers in STEM is, “Keep learning and embracing new challenges, and know that what a man can do, so can a woman.”

Looking ahead, both Marshe and Kezia are determined to grow in the wind energy sector. “We want to build our technical and leadership skills, connect with mentors, and continue building our careers.”

The campaign is scheduled to run for approximately three months, and Marshe and Kieza will remain on-site until its completion.