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who is equally at home in the

railway and baby food sectors

entrepreneur

A serial

Famous singer Beyonce once said, “This goes out to all the women getting it,

you’re on your grind. To all the men that respect what I do, please accept my

shine.” It is these words that have seen our alumna Dorothy Mofomme thrive in

what was once seen as a male-dominated space – and that’s just the start.

D

orothy has come full circle in her career as an

engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and mentor

to many. Arriving at MUT in 2000 from the village of

Marapong on the border of the Mpumalanga and

Limpopo provinces, Dorothy knew that she needed to keep

her chin up and make her presence felt as she embarked on

her diploma in electrical engineering. Right from the onset

she never profiled herself as a follower but a leader, taking on

the huge responsibility of being a class representative during

her first and third semesters. From then on, nothing could

stand in the way of her becoming a respected engineering

technician and fulfilling her dream of starting her own

engineering company and uplifting women and young girls

in the sector.

Dorothy boasts a very rich career that includes many

successful projects in state-owned and private enterprises in

South Africa and Africa. Her extensive experience, drive and

passion propelled her to found her first company, Valotec228,

in 2011. It was a very ambitious move for a woman to venture

into the railway sector but Dorothy was set on her goal of

making a mark and creating opportunities for young people.

The business provides a variety of solutions to the railway

industry, including railway signalling, mechanical design,

assembly, construction, railway maintenance, optic fibre

solutions as well as quality management solutions.

Valotech228 has given Dorothy an opportunity to give back

to her

alma mater

by training six MUT electrical engineering

students. Her support for university students extends to

include other universities and TVET colleges. For instance

she has transferred her skills as a guest lecturer for BTech

students at Tshwane University of Technology and worked

with deaf learners from various communities in Gauteng to

give them hands-on information technology experience.

M U T A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

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