She grew up in a village near Polokwane as the eldest of three sisters. Much of her extended family consisted of boys, which shaped her early years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn my mom\u2019s side, most are men. So, remember, growing up with boys, there are many things that you have to learn the hard way,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey will teach you how to ride a bicycle and toughen up. They protect you, but they also challenge you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She resisted the idea that girls should be limited to household work. \u201cWhen we grew up, it was difficult because most of the time they would tell you that the girl needs to go to the kitchen, clean, and cook,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut I told myself, whatever my brothers are doing, I will do it. There\u2019s no limitation. It\u2019s not necessarily about physical strength; it\u2019s the mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2004, while still a student, she started running a tuck shop and a mobile kitchen. She later applied for a youth business fund and received R19,000, which was the turning point for her, and started the company Vilolo C & B Trading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMost ladies, they [society] push them to the kitchen, but my main dream was to have something unique,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoing the mobile kitchens, cooking, and saving money was fine, but the big dream was to own a big business, something that would be recognised by the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By 2009, she had moved into the logistics industry. To get started, she obtained a Code 14 licence and drove her own truck when she secured her first contract with a construction company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Succeeding in a male-doninated industry was a real challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Constance-Connie-Makwale-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>Constance (Connie) Makwale speaking at an event organsied by the Small Enterprise Development & Finance Agency (SEDA) and the Department of Small Business Development in Pretoria in 2018. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nMakwale said that entering a male-dominated field came with difficulties. \u201cThey will do many things to you that will make you want to give up,\u201d she explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey can rob you, steal your batteries and tyres, and some won\u2019t even help when you ask. They would rather see you fail. They ask themselves, what is this woman doing in our space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A mentor encouraged her to take the industry seriously, and she went ahead with the heavy-duty driver\u2019s licence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With no money to buy her own truck, she rented one and began rubble-removal work during the construction of Mall of Africa. That eventually allowed her to buy her first truck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI only afforded to have one truck, but from that one, I managed to buy my own, the International 9800,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Makwale taught herself how to drive it. \u201cGetting a driver without knowledge is a disaster waiting to happen. So I had to do it myself. In business, you must know the ins and outs before you delegate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The work was often risky. She recalled being robbed and sabotaged on the road, but she continued growing the business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the years, she expanded her fleet, eventually reaching 62 trucks. In another interview<\/a>, she said that each truck brings in R200,000 per month. Her company now employs 119 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn 2018, Makwale was invited by the Small Enterprise Development & Finance Agency (SEDA) and the Department of Small Business Development to tell her story of success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Makwale said that entering a male-dominated field came with difficulties. \u201cThey will do many things to you that will make you want to give up,\u201d she explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey can rob you, steal your batteries and tyres, and some won\u2019t even help when you ask. They would rather see you fail. They ask themselves, what is this woman doing in our space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A mentor encouraged her to take the industry seriously, and she went ahead with the heavy-duty driver\u2019s licence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With no money to buy her own truck, she rented one and began rubble-removal work during the construction of Mall of Africa. That eventually allowed her to buy her first truck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI only afforded to have one truck, but from that one, I managed to buy my own, the International 9800,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Makwale taught herself how to drive it. \u201cGetting a driver without knowledge is a disaster waiting to happen. So I had to do it myself. In business, you must know the ins and outs before you delegate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The work was often risky. She recalled being robbed and sabotaged on the road, but she continued growing the business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the years, she expanded her fleet, eventually reaching 62 trucks. In another interview<\/a>, she said that each truck brings in R200,000 per month. Her company now employs 119 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2018, Makwale was invited by the Small Enterprise Development & Finance Agency (SEDA) and the Department of Small Business Development to tell her story of success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n