A self-confessed petrol-chic and road safety advocate, Vuyi Mpofu is your regular girl-next-door who happens to have an intense passion for cars, trucks and motorbikes. Her love for automobiles began as a toddler and was fuelled by her father and brother, both of whom are motor mechanics. However, in those days, it was not the preferred career option for a young woman and Vuyi studied marketing, PR and advertising instead, working at Saatchi & Saatchi on the Procter & Gamble range of FMCGs; Cell C and Pfizer laboratories to mention a few. In 2007, whilst on sabbatical, Vuyi realized she was happiest dispensing advice to her friends (male and female) either about their driving skills (of lack thereof) or basic maintenance tips and decided to pursue her first love, as a career option. She spent a year researching and making inroads into the South African motoring industry, before launching Driving In Heels, the Evolution of Motoring in September 2010 with a weekly motoring article (Motor Mania), and a weekly 20 minute radio show on Metro FM.
Between 2012 and 2013, Vuyi broadened her company’s service offering to include business-to-business lifestyle training workshops aimed at informing and empowering women about the motoring safety, vehicle finance and insurance and basic motoring technical elements. Vuyi aptly named this product Driving Divas – What Women Auto Know and further launched a third motoring lifestyle product called Gals Garage – Because Women Deserve Better which takes women demonstrates to women what happens when a car goes in for a basic service. The Gals Garage Workshop product allows women to tinker about the engine and under a car so as to familiarize them with various facets of motoring with the aim of demystifying cars and engines.
In 2014 Driving In Heels successfully qualified for TETA (Transport Education Training Authority) accreditation making it possible for companies engaging the services of Driving In Heels to claim back a portion of their training budget from the Skills Development Fund. With the accreditation in place, Vuyi begun and still hosts weekly interactive driver safety related Workshops aimed at educating, informing and empowering female motorists. Her latest Workshop focuses on Tyre safety and includes demonstrations on tyre rotation, wheel balancing, alignment, pressure inflation and a step-by-step guide on how to change a flat tyre – something all drivers should know how to do (even those whose cars have run flats). This life saving course is a must for drivers and all responsible corporate companies should sign their staff up for it. Simply send an email to vuyi@drivinginheels.co.za for more info.
Under the Driving In Heels brand name, Vuyi is also active on social media platforms (Instagram / Facebook and Twitter) and also produces and presents the motoring feature Car Loving Thursdays which broadcasts live every Thursday at 16:20 on 2000FM. Vuyi is also a regular guest presenter on Buyer’s Guide & Ignition GT (DSTV); a judge on the annual Women on Wheels competition, and a member of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists. She is a mentor and motivational speaker and a volunteer at her local church – Rivers.
