If you ever go to battle, you’ll need Ivy Mabogo (37) on your side. She’s a force to be reckoned with and displays bravery in her work as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for the City’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
In June, Ivy was the first technician to go down the sewer pipelines during Khayalethu Magadla’s rescue and the only woman who was part of the rescue team. She says women are prone to bacterial infections when exposed to sewer water, but not even a challenge like that could stop her.
Ivy will sometimes go without a manicure because she wants nothing to stand in her way of performing to the best of her ability. She’s a female in a male-dominated job but believes “when it comes to work, we’re the same”. She says her one essential requirement has always been “dedication”.
Ivy hails from Limpopo. She came to Johannesburg in 2004 to build a career in EMS. She decided to follow a career in EMS after she fell head first into a tank as a child when she was trying to drink water from it. Luckily, her sister managed to pull her out. After this incident, she learned to swim and it was that moment that led to her career choice.
“From that day, I told myself I would not drown and die in the water. I will do anything I can to learn to swim, and one day I’ll rescue people from the water. That’s how it started,” Ivy says.
Today, she has 15 years of service behind her and her goal is still to help and see people happy. As a mother, some of the most tragic and heartbreaking rescues or callouts are those involving babies.
“I know the pain of losing a baby,” she says. She survived difficult moments. She knows the pain of loss. That’s the reason she loves her job and saving lives. “Challenges keep me going. Everything I have been through was supposed to bring me down, but it keeps me going. Those challenges will never stop me.”
She says she is still standing because of her faith in God. A song that keeps her anchored is Habalelwimu Mudezimu Wanga, which means God doesn’t fail. When she has time, she hikes and swims for leisure, and on cold days she enjoys cooking and baking. One of her favourite travel destinations is Mozambique. Ivy’s parting shot to women in the City is: “We’re strong and can do anything that men can do. Gender must not limit us.”
Written by Brümilda Swartbooi
14/10/2022