Honoring Limpopo’s Finest: The 2025 Driver of the Year Awards.

Limpopo’s October Transport Month campaign culminated in a glittering celebration at Bolivia Lodge, where the province honoured its best professional drivers for 2025. The Department of Transport and Community Safety recognized drivers who have demonstrated exceptional skill, vigilance, and strict adherence to road safety standards throughout the competition.

In his introductory remarks, Head of Department, Mr Matjena, stressed that safety must always be the priority over speed.

“Arriving alive is far more important than arriving first,” HoD Matjena emphasized, calling professionalism and responsibility in driving a shared duty. “Arriving alive is a responsibility for everyone.”

He highlighted that the annual competition is more than just a contest of skill; it’s a crucial platform for promoting a culture of safety on Limpopo’s roads.

The winners were chosen after rigorous testing of driving precision, vehicle inspection knowledge, and adherence to traffic laws, representing the gold standard of professional driving.

Monetary prizes and hampers were awarded to the winners for their achievement and dedication. The top drivers in their respective categories for 2025 are:

Male Bus Driver Maphanga T.A.
Female Bus Driver Mokgoloboto M.S.
LDV Driver Mphaphuli O.
Rigid Truck Driver Mdebuka J.
Female Taxi Driver Matlou J.
Male Taxi Driver Meso P.

Delivering the main address, MEC Violet Mathye congratulated the winners and all participants, also commending the increasing participation of women in historically male-dominated categories as a positive step towards gender transformation in the public transport sector.

However, the tone shifted as the MEC highlighted a recent tragedy that claimed the lives of 44 passengers. “In light of such tragedies, celebrations cannot overshadow the need for vigilance,” MEC Mathye stressed.

Her core message focused on community impact. She urged the winning drivers to become “road safety ambassadors,” imploring them to actively cascade the message of responsible driving to all other road users, including private motorists and pedestrians.

MEC Mathye also stressed the urgent need to educate passengers to resist speeding and raise awareness about road safety. She concluded by affirming that road safety is a shared responsibility—for drivers, vehicle owners, and the community—reinforcing the importance of patience, alertness, and strict adherence to the rules of the road to reduce fatalities and serious injuries across the province.

The event concluded with a clear mandate for all professional drivers: to not only maintain their high standards but to actively influence the driving behaviour of others, thereby contributing to safer communities across Limpopo.