As Women in Rail South Africa (WIRSA) launches with its mission to reshape the country’s rail landscape, the TechnoGirl Programme is recognised as WIRSA’s flagship initiative, advancing a shared commitment to break the systemic barriers that limit women’s access to education, training, and technical careers. For more than two decades, the TechnoGirl Programme has equipped girls from under-resourced communities with the exposure, confidence, and STEM orientation they need to make informed career choices. By integrating rail-specific job-shadowing, mentorship, and professional pathways, the TechnoGirl Programme is creating a direct pipeline of future engineers, technicians, operators, and innovators who reflect the diversity and potential of South Africa’s young workforce.
The launch of WIRSA signals a renewed effort to build an inclusive and equitable rail industry that reflects the full spectrum of South Africa’s freight and passenger rail ecosystem. For the TechnoGirl Programme, this collaboration represents a powerful opportunity to ensure that young women are not only encouraged to pursue STEM careers but will also serve as a strategic feeder pipeline to WIRSA member companies seeking to attract young, diverse, and high-potential female talent into the rail and freight sector.
Aligned to WIRSA’s theme, “On Track to Empowerment,” the partnership responds directly to longstanding barriers faced by young women with limited exposure, inadequate mentorship, and lack of access to technical workplaces. By deepening collaboration between the TechnoGirl Programme and WIRSA members, more girls will receive pathways into rail careers that were once perceived as inaccessible.Speaking at the launch, WIRSA Steering Committee Chair, Staff Sithole, emphasised that women’s participation, visibility, and advancement are central to the sector’s long-term development. This message was echoed in the keynote address by Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy, who said: “Women’s participation in the transport sector is often concentrated in providing indirect services and not in the mainstream. Women often provide services such as catering. We need to mainstream women’s participation in the transport sector. In March 2026, we will be hosting a national transport conference and this is one of the issues we need to discuss there.”
A standout moment at the WIRSA launch was the collective pledge taken by women across the rail sector, affirming their commitment to inclusion, integrity, and professional excellence. For the TechnoGirl Programme, this pledge aligns with the future it seeks to build: one where today’s young girls become tomorrow’s rail engineers, operations specialists, safety officers, innovators, and executives.
As WIRSA opens a new chapter for South Africa’s rail sector, the TechnoGirl Programme is ready to strengthen this transformation, ensuring that girls from under-resourced communities are not only welcomed into the sector but equipped, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Together, WIRSA and the TechnoGirl Programme are putting young women “on track” for a future defined by opportunity, leadership, and impact.
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