Mondli Mbele on Research, Regulation and Transnet’s Future
A Transnet economist and policy specialist reflects on his journey and a commitment to shaping South Africa’s transport future.
Uhambo lukaMondli Mbele lusekelwe phezu wentshisekelo, nokubekezela kanye nokukholelwa okujulile emandleni emfundo. Namuhla, ungusomnotho wezamasu kanye nongoti wezocwaningo kwa-Transnet SOC Ltd.
Ngo-2025, wenza isethulo eNgqungqutheleni Yeviki Okuyingqungquthela Yeshumi Yaminyaka Yonke Yokuncintisana Nokulawulwa Komnotho (i-ACER) ebibanjelwe eNamibia egcizelela ukuthi ucwaningo olusekela ngqo ohlelweni labakwa-Transnet Lokusungulwa Kabusha Kokukhula. Kule ngxoxo, usilandisa ngendlela akhuliswe ngayo kanye nohambo lwakhe lwezemfundo nolwezobuchwepheshe.
Umbuzo: Ungasitshela ngemuva lakho kanye kanye nalokho okwakungqungquzela usakhula?
Ngakhulela e-Clermont, okuyidolobha elingaphandle kweTheku. Ubaba wami ongasekho wadlala indima ebalulekile ekwakheni umbono wami ngemfundo kanye nokukhetha umsebenzi engizowufundela. Wayengikhuthaza njalo ukuthi ngizimisele kulokho engithanda ukuba yikho uma sengikhulile, waphinde wangiqinisekisa nokuthi uzongisekela ezifundweni zami.
Kusukela ngisemncane, ngangithanda ukwazi ngezinto. Ngangithanda ukubuza imibuzo nokuthola imibono ukuze ngiqonde ukuthi izinhlelo zisebenza kanjani nokuthi zingathuthukiswa kanjani. Le ntshisekelo yami yenza ukuthi ngilandele umkhakha wezocwaningo, nezomnotho kanye nokulawulwa kwengqalasizinda.
Q: How would you describe your professional role today?d in Numbers
I am a strategic economist, researcher and infrastructure policy specialist with over 10 years’ experience in South Africa’s transport and logistics sectors. My work spans ports, rail and pipeline infrastructure within Transnet SOC Ltd.
My focus areas include economic analysis, pricing, regulatory policy, and increasingly, innovation, automation and digitalisation within infrastructure systems.
Q: You recently presented research at the ACER Week Conference. What was that experience like?
I presented my research paper, “The Impact of Regulation in Network Sectors on Economic Growth in OECD Countries,” at the 10th Annual Competition and Economic Regulation (ACER) Week Conference in Windhoek, Namibia.
It was a valuable opportunity to engage with regional experts on how regulation influences sectors such as transport, energy and telecommunications. The experience reinforced the importance of evidence-based policy in shaping efficient and competitive infrastructure systems.
Umbuzo: Ucwaningo lwakho luxhumana kanjani nezinto ezibalulekile zabawa-Transnet?
Nakuba ucwaningo lwenziwe ngokuzimela, imiphumela yalo ihambisana ngqo nohlelo labakwa-Transnet Lokusungulwa Kabusha Kokukhula (i-R4G).
Esimweni saseNingizimu Afrika, lapho umkhakha wezokuthutha ubhekene nezinguquko ezinkulu njengokuhlukaniswa kwezitimela nokungena kwezinkampani ezizimele, kubalulekile ukwenziwa kahle kwemithethonqubo. Ucwaningo lwami lukhombisa ukuthi izinhlaka zokulawula ezisebenza ngendlela eyimpumelelo zinganciphisa izindleko, zithuthukise ukusebenza ngempumelelo ziphinde zesekele ukukhula komnotho jikelele.
Ngisazibophezele ukuqhubeka ekusebenziseni ulwazi enginalo oluzoqinisa inqubomgomo yokulawula, luthuthukise nendlela yokusebenza enempumelelo luphinde futhi lube neqhaza elikhulu ezinhlelweni zezamasu zesikhathi eside zabakwa-Transnet.
Q: What has your career journey within Transnet looked like so far?
I have had the opportunity to work across different parts of the organisation. I started as an Economic Analyst at Transnet National Ports Authority before moving to Transnet Freight Rail and then Acting Senior Pricing Analyst.
I am currently a Research and Development Specialist at Transnet Pipelines, where I focus on innovation, continuous improvement and digitalisation initiatives that improve operational efficiency and business performance.
Q: What drives your work and long-term focus?
What drives me is the opportunity to use research and evidence to improve how infrastructure systems function.
Whether through pricing, regulation or innovation, I am interested in solutions that improve efficiency, strengthen competitiveness and support sustainable growth.
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