Lerato Mphela

Traffic Warden / Drone Pilot · Department of Community Safety - Gauteng

June 2023 – Present · Gauteng, South Africa

• Provide professional frontline assistance to members of the public, giving clear directions and guidance while maintaining courtesy, patience and composure.
• Handle challenging and time-sensitive interactions calmly, supporting public safety and order while escalating matters appropriately when required.
• Work closely with supervisors and operational teams, sharing accurate information and adapting quickly to changing priorities and field conditions.
• Maintain strong situational awareness to identify hazards, unusual activity and safety risks, and follow approved procedures and operational instructions.
• Complete logs, reports and equipment checks accurately, demonstrating attention to detail, accountability and compliance discipline.
• Maintain professional appearance and conduct while representing the department in a public-facing environment.

Drone Pilot – Aerial Surveillance & Security Operations · Cradle Boutique Hotel / Cradle of Humankind

January 2026 · Cradle of Humankind, South Africa

• Conducted perimeter and asset-surveillance flights using DJI Matrice 350 and DJI Matrice 30 platforms.
• Planned and executed BVLOS missions, including night operations, completing pre-flight risk assessments, NOTAM checks and airspace verification.
• Captured thermal and RGB imagery for security monitoring, intrusion detection and incident reporting.
• Maintained flight logs, battery-management records and equipment inspection checklists in line with operational and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinated with ground-security teams for real-time situational awareness and communicated with ATC/pilots when operating in uncontrolled airspace.