Truck driver Nosihle Mohunu is paving the way for young women in SA
Nosihle Mohunu is a 29-year-old truck driver from KwaZulu-Natal.
Nosihle is a mom of two and has support from her mother while on the road.
She is excelling in the male-dominated industry after pursuing a Code 14 license.
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It's not something you see every day.
A young woman at the steer of a 22-wheeler, confidently clocking up long-haul miles, expertly squeezing the rig into tight spaces and personally handling every inspection with precision.
At just 29 years old, Nosihle Mohunu is a valued truck driver, does it all with a bright smile and sometimes even a little dance because, for her, there's no better place to be than behind the wheel of one of these giants of the road.
She understands the value of what she does, delivering essential goods and groceries across the country. Her passion is contagious. Her TikTok videos, filmed from the snug cab of her truck, have already won her thousands of fans.
An expert on the road
Mzansi took notice of Nosihle when a video went viral of her driving through her hometown, Keate's Drift in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where her mother saw her in action for the first time. Suddenly, Nosihle, who now lives in Hazelmere, KZN, was on everyone's radar. Brand collaborations rolled in but she turned most of them down.
'I don't want distractions,' she says. 'I want to stay focused on my work.'
@nosihleoprintayo
I must be really grateful, all thanks to Transrite for this great opportunity 🥺🥺 #femaledriver #womaninlogistics #code14 #transrite #truckdriver
♬ Good Lord - MG Trizzy
Nosihle first worked as a floor manager for a company that sold sports and lifestyle products. Then, in 2021, she took a massive leap that changed her life.
Inspired by the flow of trucks passing through her hometown, Nosihle decided to pursue a Code 14 truck licence. Her decision paid off because, after completing Shoprite's learnership programme and acing the practical assessment, she was offered a permanent position.
It's been three years and, since then, she has racked up countless safe kilometres. On one trip alone, she travelled more than 1 200 km across borders – a testament to her discipline, focus and skill.
Not an easy job
But the job isn't always easy.
Her days can start as early as 04:00, and careful route planning and truck inspections are part of her routine. For Nosihle, safety and precision are everything. She logs every journey and keeps detailed records.
'I always make sure to get enough rest at home, since I never want to find myself depending on energy drinks,' she says.
'Music is therapy and there is nothing I enjoy more than listening to music. It always keeps me awake.'
Excelling in a male-dominated industry
As a woman in a male-dominated industry and a mother to two young children, Nosihle faces unique challenges.
'Female drivers constantly face bias. But many of us are breaking those stigmas and proving what we're capable of.'
She admits, 'My work demands a lot of my time and it's changed things. I don't see my children as often as I used to. But it's a positive change, I can still provide for them, even while I'm away.'
Balancing motherhood with a demanding career takes strong support.
'My mother makes it possible,' she says. 'Sometimes people judge me for prioritising my career over traditional roles, even though I'm doing it to take care of my family.'
Nosihle believes a new wave of women is stepping into the trucking industry.
'When I first got my Code 14 licence, many of my former colleagues, people living in informal settlements, were against the idea. They had concerns and didn't understand that for me, it was a dream come true. Once I got my job, they followed and got their licences too.'
For Nosihle, it doesn't stop here. She has been celebrated during an annual internal career recognition campaign called 40 under 40 and continues to dream even bigger.
'I want to train and uplift other women, especially from small towns like mine. We belong in this industry too.'
Her message to young women, especially those from overlooked communities?
'Women aren't just being hired to tick boxes anymore, we're proving ourselves as safer, more reliable drivers. If I can do it, so can you.'
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Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa have some of the highest levels of trust in news globally, which can potentially be leveraged to position themselves as reliable sources amid growing scepticism about information on social and AI platforms. - Chris Roper is a deputy CEO at Code for Africa. Note: The Africa launch of the Reuters DNR takes place on Monday, 23 June, (13:00 CAT), hosted by Reuters Institute of Journalism in partnership with Code for Africa. A presentation by lead author Nic Newman will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Ajibola Amzat from the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism, Justine Wanda from Fake Woke and Jillian Green from Daily Maverick. Sign up now.
