#StrongWomen: KwaDukuza’s fire chief has been fighting through lifelong fires

Nonhlanhla Manyoni (Mkhwanazi) has risen through the fires of her childhood, charting an unlikely path to become the fire chief of KwaDukuza.

Born in Ndwedwe in 1972 to a domestic worker, Nonhlanhla overcame low quality schooling interrupted by political unrest in the mid-1980s.

While at Bhekisisa High School in Ntuzuma, she witnessed a pupil being stoned to death and it become a seminal moment for her.

“He was walking around the school trying to get help as he slowly died. I knew then that I needed to become something to get out of that life.”

To fund her tertiary studies she worked for Sea World for 4 years, then in 1998 applied to the fire department (FD).

“I had always wanted to wear a uniform to show I was a professional. Initially I wanted to be a pilot, but I was convinced to try the FD first.”

“I was told that no woman could do the test or work successfully as a firefighter, so I decided I needed to prove them wrong.”

Nonhlanhla rose quickly through the ranks of the Metro FD, becoming a station commander and later divisional commander.

She then switched to fire prevention and building inspections as opposed to direct firefighting.

After 9 years as a fire safety officer, Nonhlanhla moved back to KwaDukuza to be closer to home.

She was made fire chief in 2016 and her focus has been to cut through the politics and return firefighting to its highest standard.

Outside of work, Nonhlanhla has 4 children and 7 grandchildren.

In the light of Women’s Day, Nonhlanhla had some advice for young women hoping to work in male dominated fields.

“You need to take calculated chances and turn your adversity into advantage. Do not allow failures to rule your life. Failure is never fatal unless you allow it to be.”

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