Up close with local beer brewer this Women’s Month

Brewsters Academy is a black female majority owned company based in Roodepoort that offers contract manufacturing and packaging for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Tolokazi Beer is a South African brand owned by Nxusani-Mawela that specialises in beer and cider making.

Nxusani-Mawela holds a BSc degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, and an honours degree in Microbiology from the University of Pretoria.

She is certified as a trainer for the institute, having become the first black African to be accredited, and she has earned a certification to judge beer from Beer Judge Certification based in United States.

The locally based master brewer was happy to answer a few questions sent to her by the Record to test gender equality in our community:

• What does Women’s Month mean to you?

Women’s Day for me is a reminder of the sacrifices that the women of 1956 made, it is also a reminder of the power that women have to influence change.

Being in the beer industry, this month reminds me within my space that I have the power to influence change and ensure that the industry is open more to women brewers, and that they are not sidelined.

• How would you address the cultural issues that form the background of the gender pay gap?

In the past, communities believed that men are the natural breadwinners but thing have changed; today we have families that are led by women.

We really need to start looking at how we can bridge that gap and compensate equally whether you are male or female. We also need to understand that times have changed and that women need to be treated the same as men in all aspects.

• What are the most effective ways to counteract the negative stereotypes of feminism, especially in the workplace?

I do not know if it’s the most effective but what has worked for me is seeing myself as a brewer first and a woman competing in the work space. Everything else becomes secondary.

I think if we as women start to see ourselves as professionals who are able to do and deliver on the work as competently as any other, then we can start breaking that stereotype.

• Why haven’t we achieved equality, despite legislation in place regarding pay?

I think we are not there yet because the power of women is not yet recognised or appreciated. Now that more women occupy spaces of influence and leadership while talking more about the subject of recognising women, women will soon get to their desired positions in society.

• What would you change about the assumptions men make about women?

Specifically in my line of work, there are assumptions by men that women can’t do the work since brewing is a laborious process.

I think it is wrong and undermines the ability of all women.

• How do you succeed in a male-dominated environment?

For me as a brewer, I always try and stay above all things and not let the negative perceptions about women get to me. I always let the work that I do speak for itself, and being in a space where you are in the minority unfortunately one does stand out and that is when you need to own your space and display competency.

• What can men do to help to achieve equality?

I feel that men need to try a bit harder to understand and accommodate, as well as give a platform for women to enter spaces and prove themselves.

A lot of men appreciate the role that women play in different industries; I think they just need to do a bit more and try a little bit harder.