Edition October 2024

Bawinile Mokgonyana is quickly establishing herself as a standout talent in the rail industry. Within just two years of starting as a Gautrain driver, she has earned a reputation as one of the top performers in operating Gauteng’s high-speed train system.

As South Africa celebrates Transport Month this October, Public Sector Manager magazine puts a spotlight on Mokgonyana’s inspiring career journey. Starting her career as a cleaner at the Gautrain, Mokgonyana always envisioned herself one day steering the 160 km/hour high-speed train – a dream that has come true for her.

Throughout this month, the Department of Transport and   its entities are showcasing transport infrastructure services across aviation, maritime, public transport and roads. Transport Month also focuses on advancing road safety initiatives and raising awareness about the economic benefits of the sector.

Mokgonyana’s career at the Gautrain began in 2020, just after the COVID-19 pandemic hit South Africa.

“I saw it as an opportunity to work my way up and grab any opportunity that is available.

My role included cleaning and sanitising the Gautrain facilities. I was fascinated by all the buttons that the drivers use to get the train moving. I envisioned myself driving passengers to various destinations one day,” she reminisced.

A year later, the Bombela Operating Company (BOC), which operates and maintains transportation systems, including the Gautrain, advertised six Gautrain drivers vacant positions.

It was the first time that external applicants, including cleaners who worked for a company that is contracted to clean the Gautrain facilities, had an opportunity to apply for driver positions, as this was previously accessible to the BOC internal staff members only.

“I applied for the job and went through various tests, including psychometric and medical tests, followed by driver training. It was unbelievable. It only started sinking in that I am going to be a Gautrain driver when I received my train driver license,” she said.

Recognition

When her dream became a reality, Mokgonyana performed her duties with exceptional skill and dedication, earning the title of Train Diver of the Year at the BOC Annual Award Ceremony in 2023.

The BOC uses its selection process to determine the top ten drivers of the year. Finalists are evaluated based on detailed charts that assess their speed, train handling, efficiency breaking, emergency break application and overall behaviour.

Mokgonyana came top of the list and was statistically fit to receive the award.

“I always try to do right even when no one is watching. In this case, the BOC has a system that monitors the work that we always do, and some of the most critical parts of our job are around safety of passengers and how safe we drive the trains, among others,” she explained.

She added that winning the award not only motivated her to enhance her performance but also inspired her colleagues. This is also the highlight of Mokgonyana’s career because she won the award against drivers who have been on the job since the inception of the Gautrain.

Mokgonyana’s excellence as a driver does not come as a surprise because she has always had an interest to work in the transport and automotive sectors.

“When I was in Grade 7, I wanted to design a car that would minimise fatalities and injuries caused by accidents.

Unfortunately, I could not qualify to go to university after Matric. So I had to find a job in a supermarket and corresponded with Monitor International School for a Motor Mechanic certificate in 2006,” she said.

Among other qualifications, Mogkonyana holds a National Diploma and a Bachelor of Technology in Operations Management from the University of Johannesburg, a Certificate in Business Process Management from the University of Pretoria, and a Certificate in User Experience Design from the University of Cape Town.

We have no excuse to not be successful today, unlike 30 years ago,” she added.

What makes Mokgonyana’s journey even more rewarding are her humble beginnings. She   started as a cashier at a supermarket, worked as an organisational development intern, and took roles as a promoter, scholar transport driver, a receptionist and an administrative summons operator at the South African National Roads Agency.

Equality

Mokgonyana is of the view that excelling in one of the previously male-dominated industries is not hard and firmly believes that women are capable of performing any job that men do. She encouraged more women to take up opportunities in careers traditionally dominated by men, such as being a train driver.

“Being a woman in South Africa today, in the year that the country celebrates 30 years of freedom and democracy, means that women like me have endless opportunities and we are  now able to access what many could not dream of 30 years ago. We have no excuse to not be successful today, unlike 30 years ago,” she added.

Her advice to young women aspiring to establish careers in the transport sector is that they should pursue relevant qualifications for their desired roles and to always act with integrity whenever they get opportunities.

Mokgonyana’s future plans include becoming a researcher and finding solutions to various problems facing the transport sector in the country.

The Gautrain project is a Public-Private-Partnership between the Gauteng Provincial Government and the BOC. It commenced operation in 2010 and has transported more than 60 million passengers to date.