Matlala takes to the skies with feet on the ground

Puseletso Matlala hated school when she was growing up. Her happiest times were during school holidays.

"There was a time when I was extremely naughty, didn't care much about school and homework, in particular. In fact, I'm told my teachers would often summon my mother to discuss my behaviour," said 28-year-old Matlala.

But, despite her naughtiness and lack of interest in school, Matlala was fascinated by finding solutions to problems and mending broken things such as a kettle at home.

So it was clear from a very young age that she would pursue a career in engineering.

And today, Matlala, who hails from Mamelodi in Pretoria, is one of the few women in aviation working as an aeronautical engineer at Denel, the company she joined in 2012.

Sowetan reported last year in June that black people, especially women, were still at the bottom of the multibillion-rand industry as it is still largely occupied by white men. Matlala first found out about aeronautical engineering from her father who thought it could be a "nice career to pursue" for his daughter. "It just fascinated me and I decided that I will become an aeronautical engineer no matter what," she said.

An aeronautical engineer designs and develops aircraft - from missiles to fighter jets.

"The pool of what aeronautical engineers can do is wide enough to an extent that we can also work in the automotive industry, improving the aerodynamics of high-end exotic fast cars like the Bugatti Veyron, Pagani Huayra and the Koenigsegg Regera, to name a few," said Matlala.

Matlala was so passionate about becoming an aeronautical engineer that when the time came for her to apply for a place at Wits University she did not waste time making her choice. "I applied to the one university I knew offered a full aeronautical engineering degree and on my application form, instead of filling in three fields of study options, I only filled in aeronautical engineering," she said.

She studied BSc aeronautical engineering which she completed in 2010. But even though Matlala had no doubt in her mind of her chosen career, it did not come without its adversities. She was the only black girl in her class and experienced some challenges.

"With that came a great deal of discrimination and a constant reminder that I am different or look different. My third year of study was one of my most difficult years, not because of the course but rather the nuances of inequality I had faced throughout the year," she said. But this did not stop her triumphing over the adversity. After finishing her degree she began her career at Paramount Advanced Technologies as a junior engineer until she joined Denel as an aeronautical engineer.

Matlala's struggles are still not over but she takes solace in the fact that she is able to see her own ideas manifest into a tangible, usable structure.

"I find no better fascination than to witness incarnation of my own ideas, and I believe this is no different with many other engineers. [But] as a young female engineer, the reality of having to work with senior engineers, mostly men, with [more than] 15 years' worth of experience is daunting, yet exciting, as I continuously need to demonstrate my capabilities at the highest level."

For those who want to study aeronautical engineering, Matlala's advice is that they must study maths and science at school.

But she warned that it won't be a walk in the park.

"The workload in varsity is intense, there's very little or no time to engage in social activities . There will be sleepless nights and nights when you want to quit but that's just too easy isn't it? If anything, that is the time when you should source the strength to carry on," she advised.

Matlala is currently studying for her master's degree and one of her aspirations in the next five years is to develop something in the industry that will inspire the youth.

macupeb@sowetan.co.za