When Lerato Ntuli applied to lead Engen’s Langlaagte Terminal in Johannesburg, she was told it was a dream that was unlikely to become reality because a woman had never led the terminal before.
Rather than backing down, Ntuli made herself a promise: she would become the first woman to lead Langlaagte.
She did exactly that.
Today, the 44-year-old Terminal Manager is a 15-year Engen veteran whose career has taken her through five different roles across the business. Her journey is a story of perseverance, adaptability and determination in a sector where women remain underrepresented.
From Dispatch Supervisor to Terminal Manager
Ntuli joined Engen in May 2011 as a Dispatch Supervisor in Lubricants and Chemicals at the company’s Isando distribution centre.
Two years later, she moved into the role of Relief Depot Manager for Fuels in Inland East. In 2014, following an organisational restructuring, she accepted a Plant Supervisor position in Chemicals.
Although the move felt like a step backwards in terms of career progression, Ntuli says the experience taught her an important lesson about adaptability and perseverance.
In 2018, she returned to the fuels business as Depot Manager for Alrode, a joint venture tenant operation.
Three years later came the opportunity to apply for Langlaagte Terminal — a position she had once regarded as the “giant” of the business.
The comments she received after applying only strengthened her resolve.
“Several people told me it was a dream that was unlikely to become a reality because a woman had never led Langlaagte before,” Ntuli says.
Instead of allowing those doubts to define her, she used them as motivation.
Breaking a Barrier in a Male-Dominated Industry
Ntuli’s appointment marked an important milestone at the Langlaagte Terminal and in her own career.
She recalls one colleague jokingly asking whether she had already bought a bulletproof vest after her appointment was announced — a comment that reflected the challenges she knew she was taking on.
For Ntuli, however, working in a traditionally male-dominated environment is about confidence, competence and refusing to be defined by other people’s expectations.
She believes women bring unique strengths to the workplace and says one of her biggest motivations is the opportunity to succeed in an industry where women remain underrepresented.
Her approach is also firmly rooted in safety.
Having managed serious HSEQ incidents during her career, Ntuli says those experiences strengthened her crisis-management and leadership abilities.
“Safety, in particular, is very close to my heart,” she says. “Ensuring a safe operation is not just a business priority for me, it is a personal commitment.”
That message is particularly relevant in an industry where the safe movement, storage and handling of fuel are critical to keeping South Africa’s wider economy moving.
Building More Than an Operation
For Ntuli, leadership is not simply about running a terminal.
She has also made developing people a major part of her career, mentoring and coaching numerous individuals who have gone on to take on greater responsibilities, including leadership positions of their own.
“I genuinely believe in people and their ability to achieve great things when given the right support, encouragement, and opportunities,” she says.
Her philosophy is to look beyond where someone is today and focus on what they can become.
That people-focused approach has gone hand in hand with strong operational results at Langlaagte.
Under Ntuli’s leadership, the terminal was named Terminal of the Year in the Category 1 division in both 2023 and 2024. It also received the Sustainability Award in 2024 and 2025 and was recognised as the most improved terminal on the Net Promoter Survey for Retail in 2023 and 2024.
Despite the recognition, Ntuli is quick to credit the team around her.
“The great team in Langlaagte. We did this!!” she says.
Her Advice to Women Entering the Industry
Ntuli believes women looking at careers in operations, engineering, logistics and the energy sector should invest heavily in their own development.
Her advice is straightforward: never stop learning.
She encourages women, where circumstances allow, to work towards an NQF Level 8 qualification and to continue developing their skills as industries evolve.
But qualifications are only one part of her message.
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Ntuli says women must also develop a strong sense of purpose, believe in their capabilities and refuse to let other people’s doubts determine their potential.
She also stresses the importance of integrity.
“Never be apologetic for standing up for what is right,” she says, warning that compromising one’s principles can damage credibility, authority and authenticity.
From Breaking Barriers to Opening Doors
One of Ntuli’s biggest career achievements came through the commissioning and operationalisation of the Lesedi Depot.
She led the project from infrastructure commissioning and product sourcing through to operational readiness and Go-Live, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, ensuring HSSEQ compliance and aligning key operational processes.
It was a demanding project that required strong leadership and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders while keeping safety and operational efficiency at the forefront.
Now, as she looks towards her next professional milestone — a Master’s degree — Ntuli is also focused on helping others follow paths that were once difficult to imagine.
Her advice is not to try to navigate a career alone.
“Find a coach and a mentor who can guide and challenge you,” she says.
For women entering South Africa’s fuels, logistics and operations industries, her own career provides a powerful example of what can happen when determination meets opportunity.
Ntuli was told that a woman had never led Langlaagte Terminal.
She didn’t allow that to become the reason she stopped.
She made it the reason she kept going.
And in doing so, she didn’t just break through a barrier — she created a path for others to follow.
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