Direct involvement of women in the business and d beer shows that women are not only taking on behind-the-scenes roles, but front new directions in taste and complexity as owners, executive directors, master distillers, Brew Masters, and everything in between.
As a proud employer of women across its value chain, the South African Breweries (SAB) has always striven to ensure women have a bright future brewing ahead of them. With a diverse range of women proudly working for South Africa’s largest brewer, SAB has picked four of its formidable females to demonstrate why being a woman in beer is the best thing to raise a glass to.
Lauren Steytler is a Plant Manager at SAB’s Hop Farms and Caledon Maltings in Western Cape. Being in the agricultural sector for the hops industry and as someone who is responsible for making sure that she can grow and deliver on quality ingredients through two plants, Steytler delivers excellence in everything she does. But it wasn’t always easy for women.
“When I started, there was not much women representation,” says Steytler. “However,
the industry has grown and I’m fortunate to be part of a business that is leading change and development for all women who seek growth.”
Understanding that licensed local traders are the backbone of township economies, the high informality and lack of available support has hindered the growth and resilience of local entrepreneurs. For this reason, SAB has always committed itself to supporting small black-owned retailers through formalisation, training, and infrastructure investment. Gogo Asnathi Mbokota, of Asnath Inn Tavern, as a beneficiary and first platinum retailer of the company’s formalisation plan, epitomises this.
“In our business, we have come to understand that we are channels of influence, and as such are obligated to help address responsible consumption,” says Gogo Asnathi Mbokota . “We’re in the best position to carry this mission, because we have the key formalisation support from South African Breweries – Which plays an important part in building social cohesions in the places where people come together for a beer.”
More so, being a woman in beer means breaking societal perceptions of who and what a beer drinker and brewer looks like. As a Plant Manager at SAB’s Newlands Brewery, Siphathisiwe Sibanda says, “It is exciting to be part of an industry that is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring people enjoy the best tasting and freshest beer in the most responsible way. Doing this as women gives me the opportunity to lead by example and pave the way for future female leaders.”
For someone who joined the organisation as a Technical Trainee and worked through the roles of Team Leader and Unit Manager in the Packaging Department during her first five years, Ra'idah Vaid, Plant Manager at Prospecton Brewery, believes that women are at the forefront of transformation in the beer industry – breaking stereotypes and pushing boundaries, which does not come without challenges.
“The women in the industry can move mountains and bring about incredible change, and so find it exciting and inspiring to experience people change the status quo, through growth and performance,” says Vaid.
As it has for many years, SAB will continue to drive economic inclusion and enable growing communities in a thriving society. It will do so while ensuring that it protects the most vulnerable among us. It is for this ambition that SAB has fully prioritised the holistic inclusion and empowerment of women, youth, and township-based businesses.
As the country focusses on accelerating economic recovery plans, SAB challenges both private and public sector leaders to ensure that these efforts involve the empowerment and growth of our country’s women. It is they who have the power to nurture the nation and brew a future we can all be proud of.
