September is Heritage Month in South Africa. It is a time to celebrate the people, stories, cultures and contributions that make our country unique.
At Buscor, we are also celebrating the women who are helping shape the future of public transport.
For generations, the transport industry has often been viewed as a space dominated by men. From driving buses to working in technical and engineering roles, many positions were traditionally associated with men.
However, times are changing.
At Buscor, women are proving every day that there is no role they cannot take on. From the driver’s seat to leadership and technical positions, women in public transport are making their mark and helping move Buscor forward.
From Our Heritage to Our Future
Buscor’s story goes back to the late 1960s. This is when Matsebula’s Bus Service was established by Samuel, Michael, and their father, Mpopoli Matsebula. Their younger brother, Joseph Matsebula, later joined them.
The service operated between Pienaar, Daantjie, Lekazi, and Nelspruit. It also provided services in the Nkomazi area.
At the same time, the Nyalunga brothers, Solomon, Ben, and Paul, operated Sticks Nyalunga Bus Service. They connected communities in the Kabokweni and Pienaar areas with White River.
In 1980, Matsebula Bus Service and Sticks Nyalunga Bus Service amalgamated. This created what is today known as BUSCOR (Pty) Ltd.
Since then, Buscor has grown into a major force in the passenger transport industry. Today, the company operates approximately 450 buses. It transports around 38 million passengers each year and covers approximately 32 million kilometres annually.
Buscor has also become known for technological development in passenger transport. It has earned recognition as the largest bus train operator in Africa and operates bi-articulated buses.
This history is important because it reminds us that Buscor has always been about people, movement, progress, and creating a future for the communities it serves.
Today, women are becoming an important part of that continuing story.
Taking the Driver’s Seat
Seeing women bus drivers confidently operating Buscor’s big buses is a powerful reminder that careers in transport are not limited by gender.
These women navigate busy routes and carry passengers safely. Operating some of the largest vehicles on the road, they take on a great deal of responsibility every day.
They are not simply driving buses. They are driving change.
Leading From the Workshop to the Road
Women at Buscor are also making an impact behind the scenes.
One of the standout examples is the woman leading Buscor’s bus body-building operations.
This is a field that has traditionally been associated with men. Her leadership shows that technical expertise, experience, and determination have no gender.
From the design and construction of buses to keeping the fleet ready for the road, women are contributing to the work that keeps Buscor moving.
A New Heritage Being Built
Buscor’s heritage is not only found in its history. It is also found in the people who continue to build its future.
The women of Buscor are breaking barriers and challenging old perceptions. They are also creating opportunities for the women who will follow in their footsteps.
Their contribution shows how women in the transport industry are helping create a more inclusive future for public transport in South Africa.
More Than a Bus Company
Every Buscor journey involves more than a bus and a destination. It involves the people who make every journey possible.
This Heritage Month, we celebrate the women at Buscor who lead, build, drive, maintain, support, and keep Buscor moving.
To the women of Buscor: your work matters, your leadership matters, and your story is part of our heritage.
Here’s to the women behind the wheel, behind the scenes, and at the forefront moving Buscor forward, one journey at a time.