Lelethu Tsutsu, 36, is making strides in a male-dominated industry, establishing herself as one of the few female petrol station owners in South Africa.
As the owner of a Sasol station in Malvern, her resilience and determination have become an inspiration for women aspiring to enter the same field.
Lelethu’s journey began in 2012 when her family acquired a Sasol convenience centre in Thembisa.
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With a diploma in Business Management and a decade of hands-on experience, she honed her skills managing the family’s station until it was sold in 2021.
This experience fueled her passion for the business, leading her to purchase her own station in 2023.
“Managing the family station for 10 years gave me invaluable insight into the business, and it made me realise that this was where I wanted to be,” she shared.
Her entry into the industry wasn’t without challenges. Lelethu faced skepticism from employees and customers accustomed to a male figure.
“People often assumed I was just the admin lady,” she recalls. “I had to work extra hard to earn respect and break gender biases.”
Lelethu also confronted cultural barriers, where older men struggled to take instructions from a young woman.
Despite these challenges, she remained undeterred, determined to change the narrative that women can excel in running service stations.
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Sasol played a key role in her journey, providing funding through the Sasol Siyakha Enterprise Development program and ongoing training in areas like legal compliance and customer service.
However, Lelethu noted the lack of a strong female support network in the industry and emphasised the need for more resources to help women break into management and ownership roles.
“I was fortunate to have experience from my family’s business, but many women don’t have that access,” she said.
“More can be done to help women enter this industry.”
Lelethu’s success is not only driven by her knowledge but also by her hands-on approach.
“You need to be passionate about people and service. Seeing satisfied customers leave with a smile is what I strive for.”
With plans to expand her business, Lelethu aims to prove that women can thrive in any industry, despite obstacles, and hopes to inspire other women to follow in her footsteps.
