UKZN alumnus, Ms Thandi Ngxongo, who graduated cum laude with a Master of Business Administration degree in 2019, now owns her own fuel station!
Ngxongo’s thesis was titled: Transformation in the Petroleum Retail Business: A Case Study of Black African Women Ownership of Engen Service Stations in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
After receiving her degree, she commented that too many Black women struggled to break into male-dominated industries such as the petroleum retail sector but believed there were enough opportunities available for all, irrespective of gender.
Today Ngxongo is the proud owner of the BP Moore Road Service Station in Che Guevara Road in Glenwood.
‘I still pat myself on the back for deciding to do an MBA – the course has played a huge role in preparing me for business management and leadership. I still have all my books at the office that I refer back to, especially on the finance side of the business,’ she said.
‘BP Moore Road is one of the flagship service stations in Durban known for excellent service and great customer experience. Jumping into that kind of a moving ship requires a sober mind and enough energy so as not to lose customer confidence and satisfaction – it is both exciting and overwhelming.’
A qualified chemical engineer, Ngxongo bought her service station last month after having worked for almost 16 years at the Engen Refinery as a national Health Safety Environment Quality Business Partner Manager (HSEQ). It was during her time there, working with retailers in the oil industry, that she realised her dream of owning a petrol station was possible.
Today she is living testimony to the reality that with hard work, patience and determination it is possible to achieve goals and realise dreams!
She employs more than 50 people at her fuel station and also owns Thandi’s Kitchen at 297 Bartle Road which specialises in African cuisine.
Said Ngxongo, who is now reading for a PhD: ‘We must allow the process of unlearning some of the things that we were taught which suggested that a woman is less human and that she is not enough. We are capable of succeeding in male-dominated industries and being leaders in key economic activities,’ added Ngxongo.
Words: Lungile Ngubelanga
Photograph: Supplied