Mbombela woman drives her own success
Thembi Ntini, a senior bus driver from Mbombela, shares her story.
“Sizo fika nje la siya khona?” (Will we reach our destination?)
This is some of the things senior bus driver Thembi Ntini was asked by some of her passengers in Mbombela when they got on the bus and realised a woman would be driving it.
As the country celebrates Transport Month, the newspaper had an interview with her in which she shared her story to encourage other women and show everyone it is possible for a woman to drive a bus.
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Ntini said she joined Buscor after she had seen a learnership programme advert in Mpumalanga News in 2005. She said her application was successful and she did her learnership for a year. After completing the programme, she got to shadow and observe the drivers and started driving herself soon afterwards. “During that time I had to get to know the various bus stations.”
She said she was scared at the beginning, but she faced her fears. “I was nervous as I got on the bus. I drove to Matsulu and Malalane.”
Ntini said as the passengers boarded the bus, they made remarks. “Some people questioned why a female was driving and questioned their safety. They also told me they doubted they would reach their destination and they were surprised that they made it to Malalane. But there were some who greeted me and they were friendly.”
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Ntini said some men still have not adjusted to seeing her driving. She said as she grows in the industry, she still faces other challenges, although she always finds a way to handle them. She said weekends are hard as some people get on the bus intoxicated and inevitably need to use the bathroom. “Sometimes they do not even wait for me to get a safe area to stop, they just pee inside. These experiences have taught me a lot about people and how to deal with difficult situations.”
Ntini said she would like to tell other women they can make it too. “It is not easy, but it is possible. They should always remember that if I can do it, they can, too.”
