We all know that the trucking industry is tough and that it’s still dominated by men. But step closer and you’ll find women breaking barriers in the places that keep fleet wheels rolling: from the lube labs where engines are protected, to the forecourts where fuel retailers serve trucks and vans day and night. This Women’s Month, FleetWatch tips its hat to two Engen trailblazers – Unathi Fani and Kgopolo Andrika Petlele – whose journeys carry lessons every trucker will appreciate.
For Fani, now Manager of Technical Advisory at Engen Lubricants, the start was anything but glamorous. “At 25, I had just graduated and was testing glucose and starch in a pharmaceuticals lab. I was anxious about the future. Looking back, I wish someone had told me to trust the process – that with time, things would fall into place.”
Trusting the process meant moving from pharmaceuticals into the world of lubricants, a leap that demanded grit. “The technical complexity was overwhelming. But starting out in the lubricant lab gave me a solid foundation. That hands-on experience helped me build the technical confidence I needed to problem-solve effectively.”
It wasn’t just the technical curve. The male-heavy environment carried its own weight. “Imposter syndrome held me back early in my career. I often second-guessed myself. But I made a decision: to act even when I was afraid. I started asking technical questions, even if it meant risking judgment. That shift helped build my confidence.”
Today, she’s the one fielding tough questions from customers running engines, turbines and hydraulic systems across the country. And she’s proud that her teenage son gets to see her “confidently speaking about engines, turbines and hydraulic systems. That means a lot.”
From Limpopo to Plett
Down in Plettenberg Bay, Petlele’s road to the fuel retail game was just as steep. Raised in a Limpopo village by a mother who worked two jobs, the lesson was simple: save, work hard, and sacrifice.
“My mom taught us about saving and planning from the time we could count coins,” she recalls. That discipline carried her into corporate life as a chemical engineer – but the dream was always fuel. “I applied many times but kept getting knocked back. Not having unencumbered cash was a major hurdle. Still, I knew I had to keep pushing.”
She pushed for years, facing rejection after rejection. Then in 2022, her break came: the chance to run Engen Plett One Stop, a flagship forecourt on the Garden Route.
“When I came to view the site, I fell in love. I knew it was meant to be.” Taking over such a large operation brought new headaches. “The biggest hurdle was managing change. Staff will push back but once people feel heard and empowered, they take pride in their work.”
Strength through Faith
Like Fani, Petlele knows there are no shortcuts for women in this space. “There were no special favours. I had to perform and earn my place.” Her style is hands-on: “I delegate based on people’s natural strengths and focus on building a culture of learning and accountability. I truly believe people are the greatest asset in any business.”
Both women carry messages truckers will recognise: ‘preparation matters’. “When opportunity arrives, it’s too late to prepare,” says Fani. “Start now. Prepare today for the future you envision.”
Petlele echoes Fani’s wisdom: “Start. Let go of the comfort zone. Be intentional and consistent. Have a clear vision and mission, and back it up with hard work.”
The sacrifices behind those words are real – hard work, relocation and commitment call for premium energy and these gals have it in tankers (which is why in Mzanzi, Women’s Day has been extended to a month!).
“My daughter has been my biggest cheerleader and motivator,” says Petlele. “I’m learning to prioritise what matters most at home while growing the business.”
Faith and inner strength keep the wheels turning. “We are born with an inner strength that we should not be afraid to use to change situations,” adds Petlele.
For Fani, the reminder comes from a book: You Are a Badass. “It helped me confront self-doubt and reminded me that our beliefs shape our reality,” she concludes.
Editor’s comment: It’s women like Unathi and Andrika who are transforming our industry – women who’ve faced down imposter syndrome, fought through financial roadblocks and proven that resilience and preparation are as critical to success as diesel and uptime. Their message to South Africa’s trucking fraternity is one of respect and resolve: trust the process, back yourself and never underestimate the strength it takes to keep the wheels turning.
Click on photographs to enlarge.
