Young Northern Cape women reach new heights in wind energy sector

TWO AMBITIOUS young women from the small Northern Cape town of Loeriesfontein are reaching new heights — literally — as they scale wind turbines and stereotypes in the renewable energy industry.

Marshe Strauss, 23, and Kezia Souw, 26, have become a powerful symbol of progress, currently working as junior hoist technicians in a major cable replacement project led by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy at Noupoort Wind Farm in the Northern Cape. As part of their daily duties, they carry out high-altitude hoisting operations — lifting tools and cables into towering turbines to support ongoing maintenance work. The work is demanding, but for Marshe and Kezia, it’s a fulfilling leap forward in a growing career field.

“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.

Their journey into wind energy began in 2022 when they were selected for the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) training programme, funded by Loeriesfontein and Khobab Wind Farms. The intensive course equipped them with essential safety and technical skills, laying the groundwork for careers in turbine operations.

Their current role as cabling technicians sees them developing valuable hands-on experience while contributing to a campaign that aims to enhance safety and performance across the wind farm’s operations.

The initiative reflects a broader mission to open doors for local youth — especially young women — in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 

“This kind of support shows how local skills development can create long-term impact. By investing in technical training for young people in our communities, we’re creating access to meaningful career opportunities and promoting stronger gender representation in STEM and the renewable energy space,” said Vanessa Fredericks, economic development manager for Loeriesfontein and Khobab Wind Farms.

The duo's advice to other young women interested in the sector is simple but powerful: “Keep learning and embracing new challenges, and know that what a man can do, so can a woman.”

Looking ahead, both women are focused on building technical and leadership skills, growing their careers in renewable energy, and becoming mentors themselves in a sector where female representation is still catching up.

From the dusty streets of Loeriesfontein to the dizzying heights of turbine towers, Marshe and Kezia are proving that the wind of change is indeed blowing strong in the Northern Cape.