The Executive Director of Transport, Dorothy Mabuza, who is relatively new to the position, has ambitious plans to use technological innovation to develop a world-class public transport system.
Dorothy says transforming the City’s transport industry to be techno-savvy could just turn Johannesburg into an economic powerhouse. She adds that it is no secret that the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the digitisation train have long left stations worldwide. It is increasingly becoming the new way of working and living.
“There is a lot of technological innovation happening around us. The questions is how to introduce modern technologies to integrate the City’s public transport system and deal with the new era of disruption when we implement these,” she says.
According to Dorothy, strategies are being discussed around digitalisation, which include having a fully automated transport system in Joburg in response to the Smart City concept.
Dorothy is a civil engineering technologist with a graduate diploma for engineering from the University of Witwatersrand. She is currently doing an MBA through GIBS Business School and is an affiliate of the Institute of Municipal Engineers of South Africa. She is also a registered professional with the Engineering Council of South Africa.
She started her training with consultancy firm De Leeuw Cather before joining the then Boksburg Transitional Local Council, now the Ekurhuleni Metro, as a trainee. While working for Ekurhuleni, Dorothy advanced to higher levels in her profession. She was appointed as Chief Engineer for road and stormwater development. She also worked for Rand Water as a senior project manager.
Dorothy returned to Ekurhuleni as the Divisional Head of Infrastructure for the Bus Rapid Transit system and was later promoted to Head of the Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network.
“I always tell my peers and colleagues not to focus on one speciality. This gives you the ability to be an all-rounder and work across different spaces,” she says.
Since joining the City, Dorothy envisages integrating all modes of transport in Johannesburg.
“Although rail is not a municipal competency, I’d like to collaborate with the respective agencies to ensure there is an adequate, functioning rail service in Johannesburg and that we plan our transport network accordingly to align with the City’s developmental strategies.”
Dorothy is a wife and the mother of two children. She is a churchgoer and enjoys visiting and donating non-perishables to local old age homes and orphanages.
“My passion is for people and mobility and seeing a well-structured and properly flowing transport system in the City. I am excited about the future, and I am positive about our move towards digitalisation, especially seeing the successes of our Automated Fare Collection system.”
Written by Sascha-Lee Joseph
24.3.2022