The management of Umdloti RTI Station has been intensified, interestingly, with yet another female supervisor. The newly appointed Principal Provincial Inspector, Lungile Mthembu has brought more confidence into Umdloti RTI with her strong personality and zest for life.
She assumed her duties on 01 August 2019, which she also accepted as her Women’s Month memorable occasion. Her appointment is subsequent to the appointment of a female Station Commander, Nonceba Mazibuko, not so long ago.
Mthembu (40) hails from KwaDabeka, Pinetown. Her career started at the Umvoti Municipality where she was employed as a Customer Relations Officer from 2004 to 2008. She then joined the Department of Transport in July 2008 as a Trainee Provincial Inspector and became a qualified Provincial Inspector in June 2009 based in Pinetown.
“I’m a very vocal person and approachable. I always want to prove that I’m capable of doing just about anything. I take challenges, work well with people and I take my job seriously,” says Mthembu.
Her past experience includes being a Driving School Trainer under the Driving School Instructor Training program, which started last year. The training entails facilitating, class teaching, assessing and practical driving test of driving school instructors and owners.
On the challenges experienced in law enforcement, Mthembu says that people do not take road safety with seriousness.
“Road safety education is everywhere but they tend to ignore all the relevant information, especially the pedestrians who get knocked by cars on a daily basis because they refuse to obey the road rules. People need to value life and use pedestrian bridges or crossings to keep safe. The other challenge is the high volume of traffic which is a common problem during peak times,” she says.
She would like to see more people being employed as traffic officers in order to keep people safe on the roads.
“I would like to see funding being made available for DoT staff to further their studies, as well as to see more women employed in higher positions. We need to empower women who have the drive to empower other women. I would also like to see the Department taking care of RTI officers who die while on duty,” adds Mthembu.
Station Commander Mazibuko says that Mthembu assumed her duties in a significant month (Women’s Month). “In this previously male-dominated fraternity, this goes to show that we are slowly creeping into supervisory/management positions. I wish her all the best, I know that we will work well together. She comes across as someone who is willing to learn and grab every opportunity presented to her,” concludes Mazibuko.
PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Umdloti RTI Station Commander, Nonceba Mazibuko, newly appointed Principal Provincial Inspector, Lungile Mthembu and Durban Regional Commander, Themba Mthembu.