This was announced by MEC for Transport, Florence Radzilana, at Park Inn Hotel in Polokwane recently. The 36-year-old says the win is not only for her but for the people who support her career, her family and regional managers. She told the Herald that the R15 000 cheque that came with the win would go towards her building project.

She began her career in 2010 by chance when an acquaintance told her that Great North Transport had learnership opportunities. However, she did not know it was for drivers. “During the interview, I was asked if I could drive a bus. I just said yes because I needed the income. I passed the course with flying colours and was informed that I was the first female to get through the programme,” she says.

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Although she was doing well at work, her peers and former boyfriend would tease her for being a bus driver. But being a go-getter, she never allowed that to stop her from thriving at her job. In 2016 she was first named the best female bus driver. She continued furthering her studies and enrolled in a threeyear road and transport diploma course with Wits which she passed with flying colours.

“I love my job and I know I’m good at it, but I want to go further in life and that is why I am studying. “My advice for women is not to be scared to take up roles that are dominated by men,” she concludes.