Lorraine Mapela has pioneered several campaigns and initiatives at the Department of Transport for over a decade.
She has now set her sights on the Mrs Africa Classic crown. Lolo, as Mapela is affectionately known, is Safety and Information Manager in the Transport department.
She has been shortlisted in the Mrs Africa Classic pageant.
The mother of two joined the City in 2007 as a Manager: Road Safety and built the unit from scratch. She moved to the events directorate and took on added responsibilities without extra pay. She says she did this because of her dedication and passion to making a difference in people’s lives.
A Teacher by profession, Mapela is also a qualified Police Officer and has studied Project and Events Management. She is a road safety ambassador and works closely with the Stay Alert Stay Alive initiative, organising campaigns targeting all road users.
Mapela also volunteers for Reach for A Dream, a foundation that helps children with life-threatening ailments to fulfil their dreams.
“I entered the contest because it is in line with my passion for making a difference in people’s lives. I saw it as an opportunity to spread my wings and touch lives,” she explains.
One of Mapela’s biggest achievements was planning and executing the ground-breaking EcoMobility Festival in 2015. She was also involved in drafting the Marketing Strategy for mall campaigns. In fact, 90% of programmes run by the Road Safety Unit were initiated by her over the years. She also wrote the script for the department’s mascot, “Pedestrian Angel”.
Transport Month is now a legacy project in the department because of her work.
During school holidays, Mapela conducts extra classes for school pupils and invites guest speakers to cover various safety topics.
“I get immense joy from seeing people smile as a result of my work. I always strive to make people feel good,” she says.
The Mrs Africa pageant celebrates phenomenal African women whose passion and humanitarian work change lives. The winner will be announced in October.
