Theresa Megalane’s professional trajectory within the Electrical Contractors’ Association (SA) exemplifies resilience, professional growth, and a deep commitment to ethical and inclusive human resource (HR) practices. Her rise to become the first National HR Manager at the ECA (SA) signals not only a personal achievement but also a broader institutional shift towards inclusive leadership and structured HR systems within the engineering sector.
Born and raised in Mabopane, Pretoria, in a blended household with five siblings, Megalane’s early environment instilled in her a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility. She matriculated in 1996 from Dr A.T. Moreosele High School and went on to obtain an N6 diploma in Electrical Engineering from the Pretoria West College of Engineering in 1998. Driven by an enduring commitment to education, she initially pursued a BSc in Software Engineering. However, due to family obligations and financial constraints, she was compelled to place her academic aspirations on hold.
Her professional journey began at Tlhabollo Electrical as a site stores clerk, followed by a tenure at Standard Electrical, where she assumed responsibilities in HR and Safety Management. It was during this period that her interest in human resource development was ignited. Recognising HR as a critical lever for organisational change, she enrolled at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2015 to pursue a BCom in Human Resource Management. Megalane completed her degree in 2022. She further advanced her academic qualifications by obtaining a BCom Honours in Business Management in June 2025. She is currently accepted to pursue her master’s degree with the University of South Africa, further reflecting her commitment to continuous learning and academic excellence.
Megalane’s formal engagement with the ECA(SA) commenced in January 2018 when she was appointed as a Training Coordinator for the Artisan Development Project (ADP) in the Pretoria office. Her capacity for strategic coordination and her dedication to employee development led to her promotion in June 2020 as Executive Personal Assistant to the National Director. In October 2022, she was appointed National HR Manager – the first in the ECA(SA)’s history – marking a transformative step in the organisation’s structural and cultural development. In May 2025, she relocated her HR office to the Pretoria branch to continue overseeing strategic HR functions more closely with operational teams.
In her current role, Megalane has been instrumental in professionalising the ECA(SA)’s human resource framework. Her focus on aligning practice with policy, ensuring procedural clarity, and creating supportive environments underscores her commitment to institutional integrity. Though she is reserved by nature, her approach to leadership is firm and principled.
“I’d like to look back one day and see that systems were respected,” she notes. “That staff understood and adhered to procedures because they knew they were there to protect and support everyone.”
Navigating leadership within a historically male-dominated industry has posed both implicit and explicit challenges. However, Megalane’s strategy has not relied on confrontation but rather on sustained consistency, relationship-building, and structural influence. Her leadership is defined not by dominance, but by clarity, calmness, and depth – qualities that are steadily reshaping the culture of the ECA.
Theresa Megalane’s journey from Mabopane to national leadership within the ECA(SA) is more than a narrative of personal success. It reflects a strategic realignment within the organisation towards valuing not only technical excellence but also the centrality of human capital and organisational ethics. Her story illustrates the transformative potential of women in leadership, particularly in sectors where such representation has historically been limited. By shaping systems that prioritise fairness, structure, and employee support, Megalane is helping to lay the foundation for a more inclusive and sustainable future for the ECA.
