From floor manager to steering 22 wheelers

NOSIHLE Mohunu is a 29-year-old truck driver from KwaZulu-Natal who's not just steering 22-wheelers, but also shifting perceptions and inspiring a new generation of young South African women to dream bigger.

- ASHLEY LECHMAN [e-mail]

It's not something you see every day. A young woman driving a 22-wheeler, confidently clocking up long-haul miles, expertly squeezing that rig into tight spaces, and personally handling every inspection with precision.

Mohunu does it all with a bright smile and sometimes even a dance, because for her, there’s no better place to be than behind the wheel of one of these giants of the road.

She understands the value of what she does: delivering essential goods and groceries across the country.

Her TikTok videos, filmed from the snug cab of her truck, have already won her thousands of fans.

The world really took notice of Nosihle in December 2023 when a video went viral of her driving through her hometown, Keate’s Drift in KwaZulu-Natal, where her mother saw her in action for the first time.

That moment, caught on camera, has racked up over a million views.

Suddenly, Mohunu, who lives in Hazelmere, KwaZulu-Natal, was on everyone's radar.

Brand collaborations rolled in, but she turned most of them down.

“I don’t want distractions,” she said. “I want to stay focused on my, work,” the young truck driver said.