At 44, Nonkoliso Jineneka is the only female truck driver in the Grainfoods Distributors fleet – and one of the company’s most respected. Her logs are always in order. And when she’s behind the wheel, safety comes first. She doesn’t cut corners or take chances. She drives with care and discipline.
“She’s one of the top truck drivers in the company,” says Tessa Westerdale, the Distribution Manager at Grainfoods Distributors. “And when it comes to safety, she sets the bar.”
In 2023, that attention to detail helped her stand out in the Hollard Highway Heroes competition – a national search for South Africa’s safest, most responsible drivers. Over 90 days, drivers are scored using telematics that monitor key behaviours such as harsh braking, speeding, acceleration, sharp cornering, fatigue and how long they stay on the road without taking a break. It’s all about safety and skill.
She placed in the Top 10, a major achievement in a field that typically sees thousands of short and long-distance bus and truck drivers competing each year. For her, it was a breakthrough moment. “Even though I didn’t win, I felt like I proved something,” Jineneka says. “Not just to others, but to myself. I showed that I can compete at the highest level.”
Since then, she’s kept her focus – delivering goods across the country while sticking to her routine: pre-trip checks, careful driving, proper rest and a strong sense of responsibility for her vehicle and other road users. “Her performance hasn’t slipped. If anything, she’s become more determined,” says Westerdale.
Now, as the competition heats up again this year, Jineneka is once more among the participants competing for the top prize. And this time, she’s in strong contention for the Top Female Driver award.
It’s a category that’s becoming more visible – and more important. South Africa’s long-distance trucking industry is still male-dominated, but more women are stepping into the driver’s seat, thanks in part to platforms such as Hollard Highway Heroes, which spotlight the contribution women are making to safer roads.
At Grainfoods, Jineneka’s success has already made an impact. While she remains the only woman in the fleet for now, her example is changing minds and shifting perceptions.
“Jineneka’s focused and does the job better than most,” says Westerdale.
“We’re proud of her and the way she represents the company on the road.”
Westerdale adds: “She doesn’t do this for awards. She drives because it’s her work – and she wants to do it well. But being recognised, I believe, will help her stay motivated.”
“It means a lot to be seen. I’m not doing anything special – I’m just doing my job properly,” says Jineneka. “But if it encourages other women to try, then it’s worth it.”
And with her eyes on the road and her mind on the task, the shy Jineneka is proving – once again – that excellence doesn’t need to shout. It just needs to keep showing up.
