Lady truck driver Khonelaphi Khangwayini Ngubane’s childhood can be described as unconventional.

The mother of four first began driving buses and trucks in 2002 when she was 36 years old. Growing up in Msinga, a farmstead in KwaZulu-Natal, she was raised with the belief that girls should only study up to a certain point before preparing for marriage. Instead, she worked hard to pursue her passion for driving heavy duty vehicles. After attending lessons with a driving school in Pinetown, she obtained a code 11 license and was later granted a code 14 license. Now 50, she hopes to one day impart her years of expertise as a truck driver to other aspiring female truck drivers. Ngubane has been employed at Timber 24, a division of Barloworld Transport, for 11 years.

“My previous bosses saw potential in me and encouraged me to pursue a career in this field,” she says. Ngubane previously worked in the Tree Farming division of SAPPI where she planted trees. Prior to joining Timber 24, she worked as a truck driver for SOS, a transport company which is no longer in operation.

“Ziba Okwakhe Mncwaba, a former colleague at SAPPI, is my role model. He was a truck driver for 25 years and taught me most of the things I know today about truck driving. I drive abnormal trucks and my travels have taken me all over KwaZulu-Natal to Howick, Mkhomazi, Greytown, Richards Bay, and Mbonambi. My bosses always encourage me to push boundaries and do more to challenge myself professionally,” she says.

Winning a “Driver of the Year” competition in Umdloti after competing against several experienced male drivers is one of the proudest moments of her life. “You have to be confident, especially as a woman. Don’t feel intimidated by your male counterparts and be patient. This is probably one of the reasons why police do not treat me indifferently to other male truck drivers and they respect me.”

She says although there were instances when male drivers attempted to undermine her, she did not let fear overcome her and was fortunate enough to have worked with people who respected her and had faith in her abilities. With time management being a crucial part of her job, she admits she is equally committed to spending quality time with her family. “I see myself growing within the company and life’s lessons have taught me to take every job, whether big or small, seriously.”

Ngubane encourages drivers to ensure they are well rested before embarking on their journeys. “It is not unusual for a truck driver to feel sleepy while driving and, therefore, it is important to take breaks before continuing,” she advises.

Looking to the future she welcomes the idea of starting her own business and, therefore, attends business workshops to expand her business acumen.