Elizabeth Tau (36) is not only famous for putting out fires, but she is a female fire fighter who has made it to the top in a male-dominated industry.
Tau considers herself as an inspiration to many because of her journey to becoming one of many respected frontline workers in her field.
Based in Alberton Fire Station, she is one of the four female shift managers in the station that leads a team of 34 fire fighters at the station.
Her strong personality and academic qualifications secured her a position as one of the station’s youngest shift managers back in 2019. However, she said her journey was not smooth sailing.
“I want to encourage people from all walks of life, particularly women, that it’s possible to dream and make those dreams a reality. What initially became a mere dream of wanting to drive a fire engine eventually became a success over the years,” said Tau.
Where it began
After completing matric in 2004 she had many odd jobs in between before considering studying a basic ambulance assistant course.
“I studied further and then I had an opportunity to visit Leon Ferreira Fire Station’s training centre. There, I got a chance to see young women who showed great passion for this profession,” she said.
She then enrolled at the centre and persevered with her training.
With time she also enrolled at the Tshwane University of Technology where she later completed her B-Tech in fire technology.
“My studying days were not a walk in the park because I was working at the time and I still needed to set time apart for my younger child. But through it all I made it and graduated. I thank all my colleagues for their continuous support to date,” said Tau.
She has since worked herself up from ground level to her current position.
The mother of two from Boksburg told the RECORD that attending festivities is a thing of the past because of her demanding job.
“Being a fire fighter takes much of your time, which is why you cannot simply pursue this job for money but you need to be passionate. I have missed many family gatherings and at first my children found it hard to understand my absence. I will forever be dedicated to serve my community,” she said.
Knowledgeable
William Ntladi, DEMS spokesperson, said Tau has been specifically chosen because of her leadership skills.
“She was placed in Alberton because of her capabilities and being able to roll out her knowledge in an area such as Alberton. The risk factor in Alberton is quite high since it’s an industrial hub prone to extreme fires and a person chosen to work here should be someone deserving,” he said.
He said Tau’s potential also enables her to act as the station manager in his absence.
