{"id":38498,"date":"2026-06-24T09:03:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T09:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/?p=38498"},"modified":"2026-06-24T09:03:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T09:03:51","slug":"from-humble-beginnings-to-business-leadership-the-inspiring-journey-of-ms-kgopolo-andrika-petlele","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/from-humble-beginnings-to-business-leadership-the-inspiring-journey-of-ms-kgopolo-andrika-petlele\/","title":{"rendered":"From humble beginnings to business leadership: the inspiring journey of Ms Kgopolo Andrika Petlele"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Discover how VUT alumna Kgopolo Andrika Petlele rose from humble beginnings to become a successful engineer, entrepreneur and station owner.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

24 June 2026 | Story by: Nontobeko Moimane\u00a0| Picture:\u00a0Supplied<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 minutes read time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"From
VUT alumna Kgopolo Andrika Petlele.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Growing up in the small village of Kraalhoek in the North West Province, Ms Kgopolo Andrika Petlele learnt early that success is built on hard work, discipline, and faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raised by her mother, Mme Gladys Nono Petlele, a dedicated teacher who worked two jobs to provide for her family, Ms Petlele witnessed first-hand what sacrifice and determination looked like. Those lessons would shape the course of her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, she is an accomplished engineer, entrepreneur, and the owner of an Engen Convenience Store in the Southern Cape. However, her journey began far from boardrooms and business plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her path into engineering was not part of a carefully crafted plan. When she enrolled at the Vaal Triangle Technikon, now the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), she had intended to study Biochemical Engineering. However, when the programme was full, she opted for Chemical Engineering instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What initially seemed like a setback turned out to be one of the greatest blessings of her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I never regretted a minute of it,” she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During her final year, an opportunity arose when a leading fuel manufacturing company visited the campus to recruit women engineers. Ms Petlele seized the opportunity and accepted a position before completing her final examinations. Determined not to leave her studies unfinished, she completed her qualification part-time and graduated with a B-Tech in Chemical Engineering in 2004.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Ms Petlele, learning never stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years later, during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, she further strengthened her skills by obtaining a qualification in Risk Management through the University of South Africa (UNISA). She later added a Diploma in Interior Design and D\u00e9cor to her growing list of achievements, demonstrating her belief that growth should never have an expiry date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back on her student days at VUT, Ms Petlele remembers much more than lectures and laboratories. She recalls a vibrant campus life filled with ballroom dancing, student leadership activities, and involvement in professional engineering organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More importantly, she remembers a supportive environment where lecturers, senior students, and fellow classmates encouraged one another to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“VUT gave me a solid foundation. It was a place where I felt supported and challenged to grow,” she reflects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While building a successful career in the chemical industry, another dream quietly took shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her very first year of employment, Ms Petlele registered her own company. Her vision was clear: one day she would own a filling station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That dream would take years to realise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were numerous applications, disappointments, and rejections along the way. Yet she refused to give up. She remained focused on the goal, trusting that persistence and patience would eventually open the right door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That moment arrived in 2022 when she was offered the opportunity to operate the Engen Plett One Stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When I came to view the site, I fell in love. I knew it was meant to be,” she recalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Ms Petlele is the only female Engen petrol station owner in the Southern Cape Region. Rather than viewing the achievement as a personal accolade, she sees it as an opportunity to lead, inspire, and create opportunities for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her leadership style is grounded in empathy, accountability, and continuous learning. She believes in recognising the strengths of her employees, investing in their development, and creating an environment where people can thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of her success is a simple reminder she gives herself every day:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This is your biggest dream, and it came true. This is what you prayed for. Show up and make it a success.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Ms Petlele remains committed to empowering and mentoring young women who aspire to build careers in science, engineering, and business. Drawing from her own experiences, she hopes to encourage the next generation of women leaders to pursue their ambitions with confidence, resilience, and determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her journey has not always been easy, but it has been guided by faith, resilience, and an unwavering belief in her purpose. Reflecting on the lessons that shaped her path, she often draws inspiration from scripture and the importance of choosing discipline over distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a young girl growing up in a rural village to a respected engineer and business leader, Ms Petlele’s story is a powerful reminder that success is not determined by where you start, but by the courage to keep moving forward despite the obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As VUT celebrates its 60th anniversary, the achievements of alumni such as Ms Petlele serve as a powerful reflection of the University’s impact. Her journey embodies the transformative power of education and demonstrates how determination, opportunity, and hard work can change lives,<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Discover how VUT alumna Kgopolo Andrika Petlele rose from humble beginnings to become a successful engineer, entrepreneur and station owner.” […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":38531,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news-vaal-university-of-technology","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t