Ndia Magadagela, a highly accomplished Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) with over 14 years of experience in deal structuring and due diligence investigations, is transforming the logistics sector in South Africa through electric mobility. As the co-founder and CEO of Everlectric, Magadagela leads the charge in introducing cleaner, more efficient transportation solutions for South African businesses. Under her leadership, Everlectric became the first South African company to offer a comprehensive package of international electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and innovative financial solutions, paving the way for businesses to seamlessly transition to electric fleets.
Magadagela’s journey into entrepreneurship followed an impressive career in finance and dealmaking. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting Sciences from the University of Pretoria, she began her career at Deloitte Pretoria in audit before transitioning to the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). At IDC, she gained valuable experience across industries such as chemicals, manufacturing, and agro-processing, leading multi-million Rand deals and honing her skills in due diligence and transaction structuring. Her expertise in mergers and acquisitions further expanded during her tenure as a Principal at Momentum Metropolitan Holdings.
In 2016, Magadagela’s contributions to the manufacturing sector were recognized when she was nominated for the Top Employee award in the Industrial Development Corporation’s manufacturing division. Her entrepreneurial acumen continued to shine, and in 2023, she was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA), further solidifying her position as one of the top women in mobility in Africa.
Everlectric, founded in 2019 by Magadagela and her co-founders Paul Plummer and Wesley van der Walt, addresses the growing need for sustainable transport solutions. The company’s mission is to make the transition to electric fleets seamless for businesses, removing financial and logistical hurdles that have traditionally slowed the adoption of electric vehicles. Everlectric’s breakthrough came in 2021 when they successfully imported their first fleet of electric vehicles into South Africa. Since then, the company has run extensive trials, with their fleet completing nearly 400,000 km across over 20 different business fleets.
One of Everlectric’s key successes has been its partnership with Woolworths, which has adopted the company’s electric vehicles for deliveries in Gauteng and Cape Town. This collaboration showcases Everlectric’s ability to provide large-scale fleet solutions to prominent South African businesses. As of 2023, the company expanded its fleet to 55 vehicles, including partnerships with logistics giant DSV. Magadagela’s role in securing funding for Everlectric has been instrumental in the company’s growth. Despite the challenges of raising capital in South Africa’s startup ecosystem, her experience in dealmaking helped secure critical funding rounds that supported Everlectric’s early proof of concept and expansion efforts.
Beyond her role at Everlectric, Magadagela holds numerous board positions and is a non-executive director for several organizations. She also serves as a guest lecturer on mergers and acquisitions and is a member of the Technical Advisory Panel for Infrastructure South Africa, under the Department of Public Works. Magadagela’s impact extends beyond business; she is committed to addressing the gender gap in South Africa’s logistics industry. Under her leadership, Everlectric actively seeks to create opportunities for women in traditionally male-dominated fields such as vehicle maintenance and electrical engineering.
