x THE WMN : REFILWE MOKGOSI

Saturday, August 22, 2020

A while back I had the opportunity to interview this phoenomenal woman. I am so inspired by how busy she is and yet has time for running, cycling and swimming. Not just any running, just read how many comrades finishes she has.

Link to the prior feature, Refilwe

ON YOU...

My name is Refilwe Mokgosi, professional engineering technologist. Currently appointed as an Executive Director for Public Works Cluster in the Emfuleni Local Municipality, my responsibility includes heading Electricity, Environmental Management and Planning and Roads & Stormwater Department. I am also a current President of Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (AMEU) and former AMEU-Women in Electricity Chairperson.

Other responsibilities include volunteer work in the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) business as an assessor, reviewer and moderator for my peers who are aspiring to register as professionals in engineering space. I’m a wife to a loving husband and mother of two energetic boys.

ON FITNESS....

My love for running started back in year 2011 after giving birth to my second child, I needed something to speed up post-natal weight loss, and prior to that I was in love with aerobics.

I am an 8 times comrades marathon finisher and aiming for my green number (10 medals) by year 2022. I’m also an avid cyclist for 3 years, some of the cycling accomplishments include Maluti Double 90(180km) race, completed twice already, Double century (202km), and Discovery 94.7. I recently started swimming with goal to participate in the IRONMAN in future. I have also started mountain biking with the aim of completing The Cape Epic one day in the future.

ON BALANCE...

This has been a challenge I must say being and an executive and still trying to keep up with physical activities. I had to accept that many things have changed in my life. I used to aspire to be one of the top runners and you know what mean *smiles* and the fastest cyclist who will cycle at an average speed of 30km/h – 35km/h and so on.

Currently I train mostly over weekend by no chance I will skip. Once or twice a week I either run, do strength training or cycle as and when schedule allows. At the end of day being professional, a wife, a mother, you have to juggle many responsibilities, women have the longest working hours, at the end I use cycling and running as my escape from reality and to reset for the oncoming hectic work week.

ON WOMEN...

What I have observed so far is that some women misinterpret the concept of feminism and what it stands differently… I’ll walk on eggshells for a bit here, so here is my take.

Some woman think disrespecting, ridiculing and doing away with the other gender is being feminist. Feminism has nothing to do with hate and toxicity but understanding and mutual respect.

ON WOMEN IN SPORTS...

Women have been fantastic in sport, the one event that’s stands out for me in recent times, is the women’s soccer world cup it was well supported and simply phenomenal, Woman have come a long way and there’s still a lot of ground to cover, however a few things still need to be addressed

 Television time/rights issue

 Sporting facilities on an even scale to both Woman and men.

 Pay scales.

ON COVID – 19...

Personally, I am a lot more patient from the month’s spent at home with my kids, I now have more respect for teachers lol. One used to travel a lot spending time away from home due to work and some of my physical activities. Working from home and travelling less, Am happy with the reduction of carbon footprint & this gives me more time to spend with my family.

ON THE NEW NORMAL...

Difficult question, in recent times I have been preaching about the 4th industrial revolution, well it has presented itself with a bang hasn’t it? And the pandemic is ushering us into a new period of normality where it will no longer be business as usual.

Social distancing is prompting people to embrace video conferencing, virtual classrooms, telemedicine and will force many industries to adopt and reframe the nature of working and learning. The minimization of human to human interaction to prevent exposure to the virus is paving way for automation and people are also rethinking the traditional cash system in favour of the digital payments, in a nutshell that’s my view of the new normal.

Q. FOR WOMEN...

We are the carriers of life and without women there would be no life, Woman are the backbone of every household in the universe and should recognised as such, women are making their mark in the world and their achievements are astronomical, be it in the Office, society, field of play or any sphere for that matter, women are challenging stereotypes and proving to be just as capable as their male counterparts.

August is women’s month and feels good to a month to celebrate women’s achievements, lets aspire for a greater future and even greater achievements. Thank you and much love.