African Fusion talks to Confidence Lekoane, currently acting Executive Director of the SAIW, about her history and hopes for the Institute’s future.
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Confidence Lekoane joined the SAIW in February 2012 and was instrumental in establishing the Institute’s newly formed mechanical testing laboratory.
Confidence Lekoane grew up in Thembisa on the East Rand of Gauteng and spent her high school years at Rhodesfield Technical High School near Kempton Park. “I never really knew what a technical high school was before I started, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the practical aspects of being in a technical school, working with my hands to take things apart and putting them together again. It is part of my character,” she tells AF.
Having matriculated in 2006, Confidence went to the University of Johannesburg (UJ) to study metallurgical engineering and was awarded her National Diploma in Engineering Metallurgy. “During my undergrad studies, I got industrial exposure in production quality control, which included looking at the accuracy of the casting alloys,” she says, adding that it was here that she first gained experience of mechanical and metallurgical testing.
“In 2011, while studying for my B-Tech in Engineering Metallurgy from UJ, I was employed by SCAW Metals on its Graduate Training Programme where I was conducting research on new methodology to enhance product quality in the foundry, characterising steel microstructures and managing heat treatment trials to improve wear resistance – for vertical spindle mills, for example,” she tells AF.
Confidence joined the SAIW in February 2012 and was instrumental in establishing the Institute’s newly formed mechanical testing lab. “After setting up the laboratory, I was responsible for managing and coordinating day-to-day laboratory operations and ensuring adherence to ISO/IEC 17025 quality management standards; operating and maintaining all the testing equipment; interpreting test results; and issuing reports in line with client specifications and regulatory standards,” she says.
“I also provided mentorship to in-service training students and ensured the laboratory maintained a high level of organisation and efficiency,” she adds.
Confidence Lekoane also found the time and energy to continue to study while managing the SAIW Mechanical Testing Laboratory, and she was awarded an IIW International Welding Technologist (IWT) Diploma by the SAIW in 2017.
This led to a promotion within the SAIW’s Technical Services Department, where she became a welding consultant, doing qualifications for welding procedures and personnel, and assisting clients and SAIW members with welding related problems. “I was helping clients towards compliance with international standards such as ISO 15614-1 for welding procedure specifications (WPSs); ISO 9606-1 for the qualification testing of welders; and the ASME IX, and AWS D1.1 welded construction codes for pressure vessels and structures, respectively.
“This work is at the core of the SAIW’s national role in raising and upholding industry standards,” she points out, adding that her Technical Services role at the SAIW also included coordinating welder performance qualification, ensuring adherence to quality standards, leading the development of welding procedures, troubleshooting and resolving welding problems for clients, managing client relations, and developing tailored solutions to meet individual client needs.
In April 2023, Lekoane was promoted again to become the SAIW’s Technical Services and Practical Welding Manager. Now in 2025, she has again been chosen – this time in the roll of acting Executive Director – to lead the Institute through a difficult transformation. “It’s a big job, but I am a hard working person,” she comments.
“The SAIW is evolving, focusing on digitalising systems, programmes and automating company processes. We are moving with the times to become increasingly relevant to the industry. I am looking forward to being instrumental in delivering this vision, which is being made possible under the leadership and guidance of our President, Mr Joseph Zinyana.
“The SAIW should be the home of the welding Industry, where people come to find solutions. My hope is we can again become the preferred partner for our membership and the wider welding community.
“My management style is collaborative: I want to cultivate a culture where our staff feel happy, energetic and proud when they come to work. “Most importantly, all our services need to be highly valued by customers, members and the South African welding industry. We need to put them first,” Confidence Lekoane concludes.