Lydia Kwange’s story is one of grit and determination. It’s the ultimate proof of what is possible through sheer willpower. It’s the story of a switchboard operator who invested every ounce of energy left after a full day of work, into her studies. Today, she works as a transport technologist alongside some of the country’s brightest minds. Lydia Kwange specialises in transport economy. Her research interest lies in addressing the challenges that South African passengers face.
But to live out this passion, took drive and will power. Kwange was first hired as a switchboard operator at the CSIR in 2006. After three years, she asked to be moved, “I requested my then manager to consider moving me because I had learned so much. I was transferred to the CSIR’s call centre, where I took calls from users across the CSIR’s Pretoria campus who were experiencing information technology and other systems problems. I spent 11 years at the CSIR in this role,” Kwange says.
While working as a call centre agent, Kwange studied towards a diploma in electrical engineering. She needed to do a six-month in-service training stint to move on to do her N6 qualification. While looking for training opportunities at the CSIR, she was referred to an operating unit at the CSIR that focused on the built environment and transport technologies.
Here, she encountered CSIR impact area manager, Dr Mathetha Mokonyama, who advised her to get involved in a project that focused on cross-border road transport. “I started seeing transport from a different angle. People from Zimbabwe bought food, clothes and furniture in South Africa and transported it to their families in Zimbawe. I realised that transport is vital to an economy’s well-being. It’s such an important sector; one that influences the competitiveness of our industries and our society. I also observed that it was a male- dominated sector, and I wanted to make a difference,” says Kwange.
Kwange’s job focuses on finding solutions that can be used in transport systems and operations. She is involved in the collection, validation and analysis of data. The transport research team of which Kwange is part, was called upon by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport during the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. The department required an in-depth analysis of pre-identified public transport hotspots in Gauteng to assist in combating the pandemic by identifying vulnerable commuters and areas of mobility. This was done using spatial data relating to the dynamics of passenger travel patterns, public transport networks and modes of public transport. The datasets were generated from earlier surveys conducted on behalf of the department. The information was used to geographically prioritise areas of intervention based on trip densities and route volumes. The team also made inputs regarding possible approaches of compensating minibus taxi operators, given the limitation on the number of passengers they could carry under lockdown regulations, which was informed by a thorough understanding of cost drivers in the minibus taxi industry.
One of her career highlights was when she worked closely with the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Jacob Mamabolo, during a project to understand transport usage in Gauteng – and finding solutions to improve it.
Kwange says, like many other women, she initially battled to strike a work-life balance. Now, she knows how to manage her life. Her message to women is that it is never too late to make a difference in society. “Change begins with you.”
Current position: CSIR technologist
Education: Advanced diploma in transport management, University of Johannesburg, 2020
Currently pursuing a B Comm (Hons) in transport economy, also through the University of Johannesburg.
