This Women’s Month, GIBB Engineering celebrates Itumeleng Mtebele, Technical Leader and Railway Signalling Engineer, whose journey from Alexandra township to railway engineering bears testimony to how opportunity, mentorship and self-belief can transform lives.

As a Technical Leader in GIBB’s Transportation business unit, specialising in railway signalling, Mtebele works on systems that enable the safe and efficient movement of trains, manage train movements and contribute to reliable passenger rail operations.

Professionally registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), she is also a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Project Manager (PMP), bringing together engineering, project management and energy-management expertise.

She says her journey into engineering began with her desire to solve community challenges. “I initially wanted to be a social worker. Growing up in Alexandra, I was deeply aware of the societal challenges around me and wanted to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people and communities.”

It was only during high school, when she encountered a mentor who saw something in her that she had not yet fully recognised herself, that she discovered another way to pursue that purpose.

Her mentor, a woman who tutored at a Saturday school programme in Alexandra, helped her to see engineering differently. “She explained that through engineering, I could help permanently solve problems. While social work can help individuals or families, proper infrastructure can solve issues for thousands.”

This life-changing idea led to Mtebele earning her BSc in Electrical Engineering at Wits University and commencing her career in railway engineering. She joined GIBB in October 2023 as a Design Engineer and was promoted to Technical Leader in the railway division in 2025.

Today, her work in railway signalling allows her to fulfil the purpose that first drew her towards social work: solving problems that affect people’s everyday lives.

Whether designing new infrastructure, improving railway systems or exploring innovations that can contribute to South Africa’s economy, Mtebele sees the impact beyond the technical drawings, systems and projects.

Underpinning Mtebele’s story is the transformative power of mentorship. As a school pupil, she participated in various initiatives that provided academic support and mentorship to learners from Alexandra. One programme, established by a group of Jewish women, helped identify and support promising matriculants, while a Saturday school funded by a local church provided additional lessons and brought her into contact with the mentor who would continue to guide her from matric through university.

“I wasn’t initially an A-student. It was only when I got to Grade 12 and someone saw the potential in me that I started to believe I could be a top student.”

That experience informed one of Mtebele’s most long-standing beliefs: in many instances, changing a life starts with something as simple as giving someone your time and helping them see what is possible.

She learnt very early on that success should not only be measured by what we achieve, but also by how we serve others, with her commitment to service commencing long before her engineering career.

While still in high school, Mtebele and her friends started a foundation focused on improving sanitation in Alexandra. She also volunteered at an old-age home, spending time with elderly residents, reading to them and simply being present.

“Sometimes, it takes nothing more than sitting down with a young person over a cup of tea and encouraging them to believe in themselves. Change one life, and that person can go on to change ten lives. Those ten can then go on to change an entire community.”

This philosophy continues to influence how Mtebele approaches youth development today.

She believes one of the biggest barriers facing young people is simply not knowing what opportunities exist. “Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know until someone shows us.”

Through GIBB’s engagement with young people, including opportunities for students to visit its offices and see engineering work in practice, Mtebele believes companies can help turn abstract career possibilities into something tangible.

For a young person who has never encountered a railway engineer, technical leader or engineering project environment, seeing someone who looks like them working in that space can be aspirational and inspiring.

For this reason, Mtebele is passionate about taking engineering careers into schools and communities, exposing learners to the wide range of opportunities available within the engineering profession.

Her message to SA youth is simple: “do not feel limited by the circumstances into which you were born, or by a narrow understanding of what careers are available to you. You can be anything you want to be.”

When asked what she wishes for South Africa’s youth, Mtebele offers the following reflection on her own journey:

“Alexandra was not the end.

University was not the end.

Engineering was not the end.

Learning will never be the end.

The journey continues…”

It is a philosophy that continues to shape her own life and career. She is currently pursuing a PhD, building on her Master of Management in Innovation Studies from Wits Business School. Her research explores how knowledge management can foster technological innovation, particularly within complex industries in the African context.

One of her current work projects relates to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), where she sees first-hand the role that safe, reliable and comfortable rail transport plays in the lives of South Africans.

For Mtebele, passenger rail is ultimately about access. Good transport systems connect people to schools, universities, employment and economic opportunities, while future innovations can make the passenger journey even more productive and connected

This Women’s Month, Mtebele’s story is a reminder that women can be leaders, innovators, engineers, researchers and problem-solvers, while also using their skills to uplift others.

It demonstrates that where you come from does not have to determine where you are going. Perhaps most importantly, it is a reminder of the responsibility that comes with opportunity.