A women-led automotive workshop in Somerset West is taking an innovative step to address South Africa’s critical skills shortage by transforming its operations into a hands-on training space for young aspiring mechanics.
Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA) member, Somerset Mechanical Centre (SMC), owned by Director Tazkia Abrahams and Co-Owner Marjory Mentoor, has been serving the Helderberg community for over 15 years. Now, the team is expanding its role beyond repairs to actively contribute to skills development in the sector.
The idea was sparked by a growing challenge faced not only by SMC, but by the broader industry – the shortage of qualified mechanics.
“Over the past year, we placed several job adverts and found it incredibly difficult to source properly trained mechanics,” says Abrahams. “Through discussions with manufacturers and industry stakeholders, it became clear that everyone is competing for the same limited pool of skills.”
Recognising…
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