Breaking barriers: How perseverance shaped a woman petrol station owner’s success

Andrika Petlele, the only female petrol station owner in the Southern Cape Region, is making waves in the industry with her commitment to mentorship and community leadership.

At the helm of the Engen One Stop in Plettenberg Bay, Petlele emphasises the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone, setting clear goals, and backing them with hard work.

Her empathetic and disciplined leadership style has not only transformed her business but also inspired her to empower young women in the region.

Now, she wants to mentor young women in the region and share what she has learned.

Andrika describes her leadership style as empathetic, disciplined and community-focused.

She is also very hands-on and believes in leading by example and imparting knowledge wherever she can.

“I am passionate about teaching, and that helps me stay resilient even when staff don’t perform as expected,” Petlele says.

“I delegate based on people’s natural strengths and focus on building a culture of learning and accountability. 

“When staff feel supported and equipped, they rise to the occasion - and that shows in our service delivery.”

She said the biggest hurdle she faced after taking control of the Plett fuel station was managing change.

“I knew staff would push back, but I focused on identifying their strengths and giving them a platform to shine. Once people feel heard and empowered, they take pride in their work.”

Attaining her current position took a great deal of persistence, resilience and hard work, traits she learned early in life while being raised by a courageous single mother in the village of Kraalhoek, Limpopo.

“My mom worked two jobs - teaching during the day and at night - just to make sure we had a better life. She taught us about saving and planning from the time we could count coins,” Petlele reflected.

She went on to study chemical engineering, and was headhunted into the corporate world before she had even finished studying.

Petlele had developed a passion for the fuel industry and set herself the long-term goal of becoming a fuel station owner.

“I applied many times but kept getting knocked back. Not having unencumbered cash was a major hurdle,” she admits. “Still, I knew I had to keep pushing,” she said.

However that persistence paid off five years ago when she discovered PetroConnect, an organisation that offers support and training for new entrants into the fuel retail space.

“It was a game-changer. I visited nine sites and got rejected seven times. I even withdrew one application. But I never gave up. I knew my time would come,” Petlele explained.

Her persistence paid off in 2022, when she was offered the Engen Plet One Stop.

“When I came to view the site, I fell in love. I knew it was meant to be,” she said.

Andrika also attributes her success to faith and prayer.

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Cape Argus