Her numerous accolades include the following:
-2012 National finalist in the UJ-Group Five Excellence in Engineering and Technology awards
under the category: Most Promising Young Engineer or Built Environment Professional.
-2013 Keith Plowden Young Engineering Achiever Award
-2017 She lead a team that won the 2017 Team of the Year Award in Rand Water.
-Rand Water Mover and Shaker of the Year for 2017 and 2022
-2021 Women in Engineering Award from the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE),
-2022 University of Johannesburg Dignitas Award
-2023 Winner of South African Chamber of Commerce UK Chairman’s award
-2023 Top 10 Performing Presidents of Professional Bodies in Africa
She has served as the Chairperson of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Council.
Refilwe is a firm believer in Pan-Africanism. She is fervent champion for ECSA to play a critical role in assisting African Engineering Institutes to become signatory members of the International Engineering Alliance (IAE) educational accords, including Washington, Dublin, and Sydney. She has been instrumental in finalising and revitalising several memoranda of understanding with SADC countries, including Mauritius, Zambia and Botswana, in 2021 and 2022. This ECSA endeavours are close to her heart and set to continue and be expanded in the near future for the benefit of the African Engineering fraternity.
Under her leadership, ECSA is steering up the consultation of stakeholders to implement the Identification of the Engineering Work gazette. This critical and long due legislation published in March 2021 will become a significant game-changer for Engineer practitioners and educators in South Africa that will restore engineering integrity and foster the economic development of South Africa.