Gender-equality in bus driving
Companies have prioritised training, employing women
BEING a female driver in the bus industry is not for the faint-hearted.
Public Utility Transport Corporation (Putco) drivers said they face a multitude of problems on a daily basis, mainly being disrespected by passengers.
Thabile Zwane, who drives the Bram Fisherville to Dobsonville route, said her father had taught her to drive from a young age and she was passionate about her career despite the stumbling blocks.
She said she had to learn that perseverance was key to being in a male-dominated industry.
“As soon as I heard that there were vacancies for female bus drivers at Putco, I applied. I was successful and went for training to be a bus driver,” said Zwane.
Rebecca Makgabo, another Putco driver on the Central West of Jabavu, to Sandton route, said: “We are normally disrespected by our passengers because of being female. Putco has given us an opportunity to empower ourselves as women. It has become our second home and has given us the flexibility to do our duties as parents too.”
Linda Nkalanga started her career with Buscor in September 2004 as a technical instructor in diesel mechanics. She qualified as a petrol mechanic, an assessor and a moderator and became the first black female at Buscor to obtain three trades – petrol mechanic, diesel mechanic and automotive electrician. She was also the first black female registered as an assessor with the Material Handling Department.
The South African Bus Operators Association (Saboa) said the passenger bus and coach industry had a lot to celebrate regarding the significant strides made towards gender equality.
Saboa executive manager Eric Cornelius said: “The sector has not been merely adding to the rhetoric around women empowerment, but has made actual progress in this respect among stakeholders. This, considering that the major barrier to entry for women has been the perception that driving a bus is a male profession. This view, together with unfavourable working hours, especially for women, is what has prevented women from considering bus driving and its related occupations as a career path, but not anymore.”
Cornelius said the transport education training authority was a valuable support structure for members which is intent on establishing such programmes. For almost a decade both Buscor and Putco have implemented robust, gender-equity sensitive programmes, he added.
The gender representation drive among members began almost two decades ago from a backdrop of immense resistance, but their persistence created momentum for growth.
“Effectively, the industry provides 21 000 bus driving jobs alone. Women are steadily getting a slice of that employment opportunity,” Cornelius said
Putco’s training academy and selection centre prioritises the selection and training of female drivers. Participants in the professional learnership programme undergo six months of theoretical and practical training, followed by another month of practical driving at the depot, then training on the road, and finally operating their own shifts.
Some 56 female drivers have been trained and employed by the company for the last 15 years. They represent 3.23% of the total number of drivers employed.