Lathitha Mbambo: Breaking Gender Barriers in Automotive Trades

Service tools do not know if you are male or female - they respond to skill and focus. That is how 21-year-old Lathitha Mbambo describes her approach to the workshop floor at Hyundai Bellville in Cape Town, where she is upending expectations about who can excel in technical trades.

Mbambo (21) began her apprenticeship in June 2025 and has since serviced roughly 100 vehicles each month. To date, she has worked on more than 800 vehicles and maintained a clean record with no comebacks. In dealership language, comebacks refer to vehicles that return because faults were not properly resolved - a key measure of technical competence and quality assurance. For any technician, a zero-return rate across hundreds of services is notable. For a first-year apprentice, it is particularly striking.

"Every vehicle that comes into the workshop represents someone's safety and trust," Mbambo says. "I approach each service as if it were my own car. If I sign off on it, I want to be 100% confident it will not return with a fault."

Keevin Peters, Dealer Principal at Hyundai Bellville, said Mbambo's productivity matches that of experienced technicians. "In this business, comebacks affect customer confidence and operational efficiency. To see this level of dedication and consistency from an apprentice speaks to both her discipline and commitment."

Managing 100 vehicles a month demands mechanical knowledge, time management, diagnostic skill and attention to detail. Mbambo said she has learned small things matter. "A missed check today becomes a problem tomorrow. My motto is do it right the first time."

Her presence in the workshop also reflects a broader shift in the automotive sector, as more young women enter technical careers. She said the tools of the trade do not distinguish between genders - only between those who apply themselves and those who do not.

In a separate development highlighting the importance of skills development, Isuzu Motors South Africa has renewed its partnership with the Nelson Mandela University's Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre. The collaboration, which began in 2018, focuses on strengthening mathematics and physical science education in under-resourced schools in Nelson Mandela Bay.

The programme combines learner support, teacher training and digital resources. In the 2025 matric exams, learners who participated achieved an 80% pass rate in both mathematics and physical science. That compares with national pass rates of 64% for mathematics and 77,3% for physical science. Of the 30 learners in the cohort, 25 qualified for bachelor's or diploma studies, opening pathways to tertiary education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Natalie Gill, project leader at the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre, said the initiative provides interactive digital tools and professional development for teachers. "With the support received from Isuzu, we have been able to empower a significant number of learners by strengthening connections between classroom learning and real-world challenges," she said.

Nandi Matomela, Department Executive for Corporate Affairs at Isuzu Motors South Africa, said education remains a core pillar of the company's social investment strategy. "Through this collaboration, we have encouraged the adoption of STEM subjects in our schools, aligning learning outcomes with the skills and needs of the future," she said.

Several former participants in the programme are now studying computer science, civil engineering, electrical engineering and accounting. The renewed partnership aims to expand access to innovative teaching tools and mentorship, supporting more young South Africans in pursuing opportunities in the STEM economy.

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 New intake of women in truck driver training programme

The move to infuse more women into the transport industry continues with a further 30 female candidates joining the Volvo Trucks South Africa Iron Women commercial vehicle driver training programme. 

Iron Women is aimed at enhancing the capacity of professional drivers and to ultimately enable them to contribute to their future employers’ fleet safety, profitability, and efficiency.  This qualification, which is approved by the Transport Education Training Authority, is based on both theoretical and practical modules. 

To date, 40 women have graduated from the programme. 

Marcus Hörberg, vice president of Volvo Group Southern Africa, in his introductory message said the successes of the previous Iron Women instalments have inspired the company to continue the programme, and in the process create real change in society. 

“Over the past couple of years, the successful Iron Women candidates have proven their worth and are employed by some of the leading transport and logistics companies in South Africa,” says Hörberg. “We wish our new candidates every success and know they will go on to make a lasting and positive impact on our industry.” 

Prof H Mkhize, deputy minister of the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, said in her relayed message that according to Statistics South Africa, economic data indicates the transport, storage, and communication sector contributes 9,3% to South Africa's GDP. 

“Whilst transport alone contributes about 6,5% to employment creation in South Africa, women are severely underrepresented in this industry. It is therefore important that we support the establishment of initiatives that will help increase the pool of skilled women drivers in the country,” says Prof Mkhize. 

Volvo Trucks’ Iron Women programme will also form part of the Women Inspiring Women to Lead in Transport initiative (WIWLT), that will see 120 female professionals, 300 entrepreneurs and 495 truck drivers being trained and mentored over a three-year period. 

The initiative led by the Commercial Transport Academy (CTA) is supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

“The reality is that greater participation of women within the sector is important for diversification, yet the last recorded data from StatsSA suggests that women only make up around 17.5% of the working population,” says Nicci Scott, CTA’s Founder. “This reinforces that the sector remains a non-traditional environment for women.” 

“Our programme provides an opportunity for greater community upliftment, as we know that when women are developed, empowered, and have access to equal employment opportunities, it increases diversity and equal payment opportunities,” she concluded.