BY PHESHEYA IAN KUNENE
MATSAPHA – The trucking industry in Eswatini shifted gears on Wednesday morning as Southern Star Logistics (SSL) officially launched the TruckHer Campaign, an initiative designed to empower women to enter the male-dominated sector.
Business Eswatini CEO, E. Nathi Dlamini, described the campaign as “a movement that symbolizes progress, empowerment, and the limitless potential of women.” Speaking at the launch, he said the programme was a bold step towards inclusive growth.
“TruckHer is not just about training drivers, it is about transforming communities. Each woman who takes the wheel becomes a role model for the next generation,” Dlamini said.
SSL Managing Director, Nicolaas De Waal, revealed that the idea was born from a shortage of experienced female drivers. He announced that the company already has 10 women truckers on the road and another 10 currently enrolled in a year-long training programme.
“We are starting with 50 women as our first target, but this number will grow over the years. There is enough space for women in the trucking industry,” De Waal said.
Veteran trucker Gugu Dlamini, who has been with SSL for 17 years without a single accident, urged aspiring female drivers to take the opportunity.
“Women can thrive in this industry. I have built trust with my company over the years, and I encourage other women not to fear trucks,” she said to loud applause.
HR and Training Officer Nokuphila Mthethwa gave an emotional address, taking the audience through the recruitment and training process.
She said more than 50 women applied, and the first group of 10 candidates was already progressing through medical screenings and classroom lessons before taking the wheel.
“This is not just about teaching women how to drive; it’s about opening doors to freedom and empowerment,” Mthethwa said.
One of the trainees, Bethabile Kunene, shared her journey, saying she had spent a decade driving tractors and long trailers but always dreamed of moving into trucking.
“I started with a tractor that had a trailer we used from the fields to the zone, then moved to one with three trailers, and later four trailers of 42 metres. Thanks to Southern Star for this campaign, because my goal has always been to drive a truck. Now I feel like my dream will finally come true,” she said.
Other speakers included Candy Stromvig, who highlighted the business case for women in logistics, saying the initiative strengthens value chains and promotes equity, and SSL Director Wayne Levendale, who stressed the company’s investment in the safety and welfare of female drivers.
Stakeholders present included Galp, Puma, Total Energies, Business Eswatini officials, and the media. The 10 women currently in training were given the opportunity to climb onto the trucks for the first time, visibly moved by the moment.
One of the trainees summed it up best: “We are grateful for this opportunity. We are ready for the challenge, and we want to prove that women can do this job.”
