International award for Kopano Bus CEO

POLOKWANE – Female-owned transport company Kopana Bus Service recently received an international award from the International Business Institute in France.

The award was handed over to her on August 6 at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile Hotel.

Last Wednesday, Kopano Bus Service hosted a reception breakfast at the Polokwane International Airport to welcome her back.

Maponya, who was born and bred in Moletsi Ga-Semenya, said the award means that Kopano Bus Service left a global footprint in terms of excellence .

“In every challenge we must see an opportunity. Since we started, we have been working hand-in-hand with the government and they go the extra mile in assisting, especially small bus operators, to create more opportunities.

Currently we have so many bus operators who are struggling to get their companies off the ground. Yet, there is more to be done and it is about time we get out of our comfort zones and try to do things better,” Maponya said.

She said challenges are not particular to women, but are industrial in nature, and that most of the time the approach that they have is an approach of collectiveness.

“Government and the private sector working together can do more. We are still recovering from what happened in 2020 when the country was hit by the pandemic. The transportation industry was directly impacted,” she said.

She tells Polokwane Observer that the province has only a few bus companies owned by women.

“I am on the national executive structure for the bus sector. We have women who are starting to occupy space in the sector, but we need more who will be executives in the companies, not just the owners of one or two buses.

“We want women to own a fleet. There is nothing that can stop us as women from being game changers, and that’s what we are thinking about in the transport industry,” she explains.

Kopano Bus Service board chairman John Modjela describes Maponya as an exceptional woman who “burst onto the scene” as the only woman and the youngest among nine male directors at the start of the company in 2001.

“I am so proud of her. What an honour for her to have been bestowed this award as the country is celebrating Women’s Month. She is tough, strong and capable of leading men and women at Kopano Bus Service.”

Department of Transport’s director of transport planning and infrastructure, Mary Mabusa congratulated Maponya on her award.

She said the government has the programme to empower women in all spheres.

“The department will continue to be obliged to government policy of empowering women. We appreciate this international recognition of a local bus company,” said Mabusa.