By Mosima Rafapa
Growing up in the deep rural village of KwaKheshi, KwaZulu-Natal, without electricity, running water, or even shoes for most of her childhood, Qhakazile Mathebula could hardly have imagined that she would one day rise to become a senior leader in South Africa’s energy sector. Today, the distinguished alumna from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), serves as Acting General Manager for Business Development at City Power Johannesburg.
Her remarkable journey from a determined engineering student to a senior executive demonstrates her resilience, faith and purpose-driven leadership. An undisputed career highlight is her recent receipt of the Laidlaw Foundation Scholarship, making her only the second South African to receive this prestigious international award, enabling her to enroll for MBA studies at IE Business School in Spain.
Qhakazile Mathebula
Leading and transforming energy projects
At City Power, Mathebula played an important leadership role in transformative energy projects. Among her notable achievements is spearheading the Amarasta Microgrid in Alexandra Township, South Africa’s first municipal-led microgrid initiative and overseeing the Electrification of Informal Settlements at Shalazile Camp. This project earned her the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) Award for her exceptional contribution to South Africa’s energy transition.
“Working in these communities takes me back to my childhood,” she said. “Living without water or electricity makes life extremely difficult and limits opportunities. I remember coming home from school and having to fetch water from the river instead of doing homework or playing sports. Those experiences fuel my passion to ensure others don’t have to live under the same conditions.”
Armed with a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering from TUT, a Bachelor of Business Administration (cum laude) from the University of South Africa and a global certification as Project Management Professional, Mathebula has built a distinguished career spanning two decades across the steel manufacturing, rail transport and energy sectors.
“I owe much of my success to my family,” she said. “My grandparents and my mother, who were teachers, sacrificed everything to ensure I received a quality education. For them, education was non-negotiable.”
A career journey driven by discipline and results
Mathebula’s career began at Highveld Steel as a Junior Technician. She later joined Transnet as a Railway Signalling Technician before moving to City Power, where she worked in Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) and Load Management. Over the years, steady growth has defined her career trajectory, from Senior Technician in Telecommunication Systems to Project Manager for Capital Projects Execution (2018), Senior Project Manager (2024) and now Acting General Manager for Business Development (2025).
“Starting in steel manufacturing and rail operations gave me a strong technical grounding in process efficiency, safety and precision,” she reflected. “Those experiences shaped my disciplined, results-oriented approach, which I now apply to managing large-scale infrastructure and energy projects.”
Global influence
Her influence extends well beyond South Africa. She has been nominated for multiple international awards, including Energy Professional of the Year (2025) by the South African Energy Efficiency Confederation (SAEEC) and Mini-Grid Project of the Year (2025) by the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA).
To add to her growing list of accolades, she was named ‘Top Performing Woman in Electricity’ by the Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (AMEU) in October 2025.
Qhakazile Mathebula was honoured for overseeing the Electrification of Informal Settlements at Shalazile Camp.
Passion for mentorship and youth empowerment
Beyond her professional achievements, Mathebula is deeply passionate about mentorship and youth empowerment in engineering and energy.
“Mentorship is essential for shared growth and empowerment,” she said. “I didn’t fully appreciate its value early in my career, but I have come to realise how mentors shape confidence and direction. Today, I mentor women and young engineers, offering both technical and career guidance.”
Her outstanding leadership and contribution to the national energy transition have earned praise from City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava, Board Chairperson Makhosini Kharodi, as well as the Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Hon. Samantha Jane Graham-Maré, who all lauded her as a key figure in advancing South Africa’s sustainable energy goals.
Qhakazile Mathebula and Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Hon. Samantha Jane Graham-Maré.
Beyond her professional achievements, Mathebula is deeply passionate about mentorship and youth empowerment in engineering and energy.
Mentor and Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr Raymond Kene, commended her exceptional growth and unwavering dedication, saying: “It has been a privilege to be part of Mathebula’s inspiring success story. Her phenomenal transformation demonstrates her determination but also the impact of intentional mentorship and visionary leadership. As a mentor, I am deeply committed to fostering such talent at FEBE, as it enriches the fabric of our great University and inspires the next generation of leaders, engineers and innovators. Her achievements reflect the transformative power of leadership and the value we at the TUT collectively place on nurturing the potential within our academic community.”
- The Laidlaw Scholarship is a programme for undergraduate students at participating universities that focuses on developing research and ethical leadership skills. It involves an independent research project, a Leadership-in-Action project, leadership training, and participation in a global network. A separate program exists for women pursuing MBA degrees at partner business schools, which aims to increase female leadership in business.