Women truck drivers honoured as safety takes centre stage
Women truck drivers discussed career opportunities and safety challenges at a Western Cape Mobility Department event in Cape Town, which included practical self-defence training.
The Western Cape Mobility Department honoured women truck drivers for their crucial role in South Africa's freight sector during a Women in Freight session event in Cape Town on Monday. The gathering aimed to celebrate the valuable contributions women make in an industry typically dominated by men, while also addressing the unique safety challenges they face on the road.
The event featured practical self-defence training to enhance women's situational awareness, confidence, and safety skills. Isaac Sileku, the Western Cape Minister of Mobility, emphasized the importance of creating a safe working environment for women in the freight industry. He stated that the government and industry must collaborate to ensure the safety of women both at work and on the road.
Sileku noted that the event provided a platform to discuss the barriers that women encounter in the sector, including long-distance travel, overnight trips, working alone, and unfamiliar rest areas or loading sites. Recent research from Vaal University of Technology revealed that women make up about 28% of the transport and logistics workforce in South Africa, and more than 4% of commercial truck drivers within the road freight sector.
Sileku highlighted the need to expand opportunities for women in the industry, allowing them to progress their careers and take on leadership positions, while also ensuring their safety. The Western Cape Mobility Department plans to continue partnering with the freight industry to advance opportunities for women and improve safety standards in the workplace and on the road.
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