Early life and education
Ndabambi began his primary education in 1974 at Ramafole Junior Secondary School in the Drakensberg region. In 1980, he relocated to Mthatha, continuing his schooling at Ncambela Junior Secondary School until 1983. He subsequently enrolled at Mthatha Technical College in 1988, though he left prior to completion to pursue a military career.
Military service
On 19 July 1988, Ndabambi enlisted in the Transkei Defence Force (TDF), commencing nine months of basic military training on 1 August 1988. Following the 1994 democratic elections and the subsequent integration of regional defense forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), he transitioned into the newly unified military.
On 9 January 1995, Ndabambi served as one of the initial instructors assigned to train women within the integrated SANDF structure. Midway through 1995, he was reassigned to Heidelberg, Gauteng, where he was stationed at the Army Gymnasium, shifting his duties from transport operations to logistics management. Ndabambi officially discharged from military service on 31 December 1998.
Post-military career and business ventures
Following his military service, Ndabambi entered the private sector as a small-business operator selling sand and firewood. In 2003, he obtained a Code 14 heavy-vehicle driver's license, enabling a transition into long-distance commercial driving:
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2005–2006: Heavy-vehicle driver for Value Logistics.
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2006–2008: Commercial transport driver for Anderson.
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2008–2009: Driver at Zenergetex.
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2010: Owner-driver for South African Breweries (SAB).
Between 2011 and 2019, Ndabambi expanded into hospitality and local retail, owning and operating a restaurant, a tavern, and several convenience stores (tuck shops). In 2019, he transitioned his focus to agriculture, establishing an enterprise in pig farming.
Veterans advocacy
Ndabambi serves as the chairperson of the South African Transkei Bophuthatswana Venda and Ciskei (SATBVC) military veterans association. In this capacity, he leads advocacy efforts representing former armed forces personnel from the non-statutory and former Bantustan defense structures. His organization campaigns for the disbursement of military pensions, special allowances, and integration compensation that were delayed or withheld during the post-apartheid defence integration process.
