Behind every international shipment sits a complex system of planning, compliance and coordination. For Remoabetswe Mathobela, Export Analyst at Volkswagen Group Africa, this is where her work unfolds.
With more than seven years of experience across freight forwarding and the automotive sector, Mathobela has built a career navigating the systems that move vehicles and parts across borders. Her work focuses on export coordination, regulatory compliance and shipment planning across Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring that high value shipments reach their destinations efficiently and on time.
One of the moments that stands out most clearly in her career came during preparations for the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, where the Volkswagen T-Cross served as the official vehicle for the event. Mathobela coordinated one of the largest container export shipments tied to the championship, a responsibility that carried both operational complexity and tight deadlines.
Reflecting on the experience, she says the moment was deeply rewarding. “Seeing the vehicles arrive on time, knowing I played a part behind the scenes in making such a high-profile international event possible, was deeply rewarding.”
Being selected to participate in a leadership development journey within the organisation also stands out as a meaningful milestone. As she explains, it reflected both the trust placed in her capabilities and the growth she has experienced within the business.
Inside the Work of Export Logistics
Working in export logistics means that no two days look the same. New requests arrive daily, priorities shift quickly and shipments often move across multiple regulatory environments.
Mathobela explains that much of her work begins with coordinating export requests to various destinations across Sub-Saharan Africa, managing the end-to-end export process for both vehicles and parts. This includes ensuring that export documentation is accurate and compliant with customs and regulatory requirements, securing bookings with shipping lines or forwarding agents and maintaining communication with multiple stakeholders throughout the shipment process.
Her responsibilities also include monitoring delayed shipments, coordinating container deliveries and compiling weekly shipment reports. On some days she attends customs inspections at depots to ensure that shipments move through the required clearance procedures smoothly.
“It’s a dynamic environment that requires adaptability, attention to detail and constant problem-solving,” she explains. “Each day brings new challenges, shifting priorities and time-sensitive decisions.”
Forward planning plays a central role in this work. Drafting shipment strategies allows her to ensure that vehicles and parts meet strict deadlines and arrive at their destinations when they are needed.
Building a Career in Logistics
Mathobela’s entry into the industry began with formal training. She holds a National Diploma in Logistics, a BTech in Logistics and a Project Management certificate, qualifications that shaped the foundation of her career.
Her first professional experience came through an internship at DHL Global Forwarding, where she gained early exposure to international freight operations and global supply chains. From there, she moved into her first permanent role in Parts Distribution Inbound as a Logistics Coordinator, gaining practical experience in inbound logistics and supply chain operations.
Over time she transitioned into the automotive sector, working in roles that expanded her understanding of logistics across the full value chain. As a Vehicle Logistics Analyst she gained exposure to fully built unit imports and exports, domestic transport coordination, contract drafting and service level agreement management.
Looking back, she describes each stage of her career as building toward a broader understanding of the logistics ecosystem. Today, as an Export Analyst, she manages Sub-Saharan Africa export operations including ad hoc export movements, applying the operational and regulatory knowledge developed throughout her journey.
Challenging Misconceptions About Logistics
Despite the complexity of the field, logistics is often misunderstood.
Mathobela recalls that when she first began studying logistics, people often dismissed the qualification. “When I first started my qualification, people would say, ‘oh, logistics? Yi le ya ma truck,’” she says, referring to the common phrase loosely translated as “the truck qualification.” The assumption, she explains, is that logistics is simply about moving trucks or packages from point A to point B.
In reality, the discipline involves much more. Export logistics requires an understanding of international trade regulations, customs compliance, tariff classification and cross-border operations, all of which play a critical role in global commerce.
Some of the knowledge that now proves most valuable came from work that initially felt routine. While working as a Logistics Coordinator at a Parts Distribution Centre, one of her responsibilities was ensuring that parts were assigned the correct tariffs. She often kept the SARS tariff manual close at hand as a reference guide.
“At the time, I didn’t think it was a particularly important task and honestly, it wasn’t my favourite,” she says. “But looking back, that experience has proven incredibly valuable.” Today she is able to assist internally with HS codes and customs requirements when needed, knowledge that continues to support her work in export logistics.
Guided by Action and Intention
At the centre of Mathobela’s career philosophy is a balance between taking action and maintaining long term direction.
She explains that her journey has been guided by what she describes as “a combination of action and intention.” Rather than waiting for ideal conditions, she draws inspiration from a principle often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
At the same time, guidance from a mentor helped shape her thinking about long term career direction. As she recalls, the advice was simple but powerful: ensure that every move is supported by a clear vision.
“Being fully present in the now while remaining strategically aligned with my next has been the compass for my career,” she says. “Bloom where you are planted and remain true to yourself.”
