Rembu Mukwevho has defied the odds to build a career in a field long dominated by men. The 41-year-old from Niani is now a Code 14 truck driver in Musina, working for one of the region's biggest companies, and serves as a role model to other women.
Mukwevho, a single mother of three, grew up in poverty and says her journey has not been easy. She first obtained her Code 10 driver's licence in 2002, which opened the way for her to work as a taxi and later a bus driver. In 2020, she upgraded to Code 14, allowing her to enter the trucking industry.
"Being a truck driver is probably one of the most undermined jobs in South Africa, but it supports many families," she says. "We get called all kinds of names, uneducated and unskilled, but the truth is that many of us are educated."
Mukwevho recalls her early days as a taxi driver. "Passersby would stare at me in disgust because it was a male-dominated job. But I fell in love with driving and kept pushing. I feel proud because I have proven that there is no specific job for a certain gender. The world has changed, and I call on other women to take matters into their own hands, because success lies within ourselves."
She adds: "Unlike many of my peers, I did not have any support, and I realised that being behind the wheel was the only option to prevent us from starving. We also went to school. We just couldn't sit at home feeling pity for ourselves because there are no jobs."