FEBE alumna and former artisan left her job to study engineering

At 18, Noxolo Dludla stepped into a male-dominated industry as a vehicle body builder at Transpec, a Durban-based company specialising in truck bodies, trailers and chassis engineering.

From vehicle body builder to cum laude Mechatronics Engineering graduate, Noxolo Dludla’s journey is one of courage, determination and breaking barriers. Six years later, having become the company’s first woman in the role and established herself in a career she had grown comfortable in, she made a decision that would change the course of her life: she resigned from her job to pursue her dream of becoming an engineer, despite not knowing whether she had even been accepted into a university.

Four years later, that leap of faith paid off. At 28, Dludla graduated cum laude with a degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in the 2026 Autumn graduations, proving that starting over does not mean starting from scratch, and that it is never too late to pursue a dream.

"You are never too old to learn, and it is never too late to start over," she said. "Time passes whether you pursue your goals or not, so you might as well spend it building the future you want."

Returning to university was not part of Dludla's original plan. After finishing school, she intended to take a one-year break before continuing with her studies. Instead, she entered working life, postponing her dream year after year.

"I started working at 18. I became comfortable earning an income, but I always knew I wanted to become an engineer. When I resigned, I hadn't even been accepted into a university," she said. "I prayed and told myself it was now or never. I trusted God would make a way, and He did."

Before rejoining academia, Dludla had already built an impressive career. During her six years at Transpec, she aimed to learn from experienced colleagues. Within three years, she was a journeywoman with her own assistant.

"Working in a male-dominated industry taught me respect, commitment, teamwork, and a strong work ethic," she said. "Those lessons stayed with me through my studies."

Her interest in Mechatronics was sparked by a friend in 2018. Curious, she researched it and realised it combined everything she enjoyed.

"I'm really excited about robotics and automation," she said. "I also love how Mechatronics integrates multiple engineering disciplines, allowing work across mechanical, electrical, electronic, and software systems."

Despite her workplace experience, returning to formal education after nearly seven years posed challenges. While many first-year students remembered concepts from matric, she had to revisit older work.

"The hardest part wasn't adjusting to university life," she explained. "It was recalling concepts from years ago. I had to revisit and reinforce my foundation to understand university-level content."

Her biggest challenge came in her final year.

"My mother passed away at the start of the second semester. I thought my world had stopped," she recalled. "The person I wanted to make proud was gone, and I questioned whether to continue or not. A week later, I realised finishing my degree would honour my mother's sacrifices. I also thank my lecturers, TUT’s counselling services, family, and friends for supporting me."

Her achievement symbolises more than academic success.

"It proves my consistency, discipline, dedication, and commitment," she said. "It reflects years of showing up daily, even when I didn't feel like it. It reminds me that I can set a goal, focus, and achieve it."

Looking ahead, Dludla aims to build a career in automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing while inspiring more young women to pursue engineering careers.

"Having worked as both artisan and engineer, I understand the importance of representation and breaking barriers," she said. "I hope my journey demonstrates that challenges can be overcome, and dreams can be pursued at any life stage through hard work and determination."