As Women’s Month wraps up, we continue to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and contributions of women across SA.
KuGompo City-based fire and emergency services professional Lufuno Denga’s 25-year career offers an inspiring example of a woman who has built her place in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Originally from Thohoyandou in Limpopo, the 50-year-old told the Go! on Tuesday, her career began as a junior fire fighter in 1999, driven by a desire to serve her community.
More than two decades later, Denga serves as assistant manager of fire & rescue at Airports Company SA’s (ACSA) King Phalo Airport in KuGompo, where she plays a critical role in ensuring aviation rescue and firefighting readiness, operational safety, and emergency preparedness.
Her transition from a junior firefighter to a senior executive position has been shaped by determination, resilience, and a refusal to allow the gender barriers of a male-dominated industry to dictate how far she could go.
However, entering the profession as a woman in the late 1990s came with significant hurdles.
At the time, firefighting was almost exclusively male-dominated, and Denga found herself having to work double-time to gain acceptance and demonstrate that women were equally capable of meeting the rigorous physical, emotional, and professional demands of the job.
“Those early experiences shaped me into a stronger, more resilient, and confident firefighter, and they have continued to inspire me throughout my career,” she said.
Her distinguished career began at Edenvale municipality, where she steadily progressed through the ranks to shift manager.
In 2008, she joined the Capricorn district municipality as a divisional officer, serving there for more than a decade before transitioning her expertise to ACSA.
For Denga, one of the greatest achievements of her career has been earning the trust and respect of those she leads and works alongside.
She believes breaking barriers is about ensuring that women are recognised as equally capable of contributing, leading, and succeeding.
Facing initial doubt and resistance, she said “these experiences strengthened my confidence, resilience, and determination, while also shaping me into a more capable and compassionate leader”.
At King Phalo Airport, Denga oversees fire and rescue operations, ensuring personnel, equipment, and response protocols strictly align with international aviation safety requirements.
She says airport firefighting encompasses far more than tackling aircraft fires — it includes aircraft rescue operations, emergency planning, inspections, tactical drills, risk assessments, fire prevention, and seamless co-ordination with external emergency services.
The demanding nature of aviation safety has made continued professional development a cornerstone of her journey.
Denga holds a national diploma in fire technology, a degree in law enforcement, and is busy completing an advanced diploma in fire technology through Tshwane University of Technology and a degree in psychology through Unisa.
“Continuous learning ensures that skills, knowledge, and practices remain current and effective,” Denga said.
As Women’s Month shines a light on female trailblazers, Denga believes women in executive positions carry a responsibility to keep doors open for the next generation.
“Being a woman in fire and rescue leadership means breaking barriers and showing that women can lead and perform in any demanding environment.
“During Women’s Month, it is a reminder to encourage, support, and create opportunities for other women to grow and lead,” Denga said.
Her advice to young women eyeing emergency services is straightforward: remain confident, disciplined, and dedicated to self-improvement.
