GROWING up in a village where women weren’t mobile did not stop her from achieving her dreams.
Lungakazi Langa (26) is originally from Mantlaneni Village, Eastern Cape but now lives in East London.
Even though she hasn’t yet achieved all her goals, she’s happy to have completed her N3 certificate in automotive mechanical engineering.
She now is a general worker at a big motoring company in East London and is learning how to drive a car, which she has always dreamed of doing.
“I always loved cars,” she said.
“Every time I went to town with my mum, I would ask her if women were allowed to drive cars. I never saw a woman driving a car when I grew up.
“They only started driving lately.”
She wants to buy her own car one day. “It will be a BMW 320i,” said Lungakazi, who supports her two siblings after the death of both her parents.
She said she is the only one working and life is tough for them.
“I want to change our living conditions. I am working at the motor company until I get my job as a mechanic.”
She said she hopes to carry on with her studies until she completes her N6.
“That will be once I have raised enough money while supporting my siblings,” she said.
“I used to ask myself what makes a car move and stop.
“Now I know and cannot wait to work as a mechanic or manager.”
Lungakazi is an example for many women out there who want to work in the motor industry.
She said her neighbours owned cars, but not one of the women or their daughters drove them.
After completing matric in 2010, Lungakazi studied electrical engineering.
In 2012 she dropped out and the next year, she followed her childhood dream of working in the motor industry.
She went to Lovedale TVET College to complete her N1, N2 and N3 certificates and started working as an apprentice at Cliffies Auto Repairs in 2016.
Last year, she was employed full-time.
She is currently waiting for a trade test date so she can become a qualified motor mechanic.
“I have always loved cars, since I was young, even though I didn’t have access to them. There were no cars at home.
“I wanted to make history, regardless of my gender.
“When I am fixing a car, I see myself making my mark as a woman. I learn new things every day.”
