Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:AP

In a township near Johannesburg, South Africa, Themba Maseko works hard fixing cars. His little garage is always busy, with customers coming in one after another. Themba used to be an electrician but switched to being a mechanic in 2008 because he wanted to follow his passion.

But now, things are changing for the better. Themba and other mechanics in nearby townships joined together to create something called the Motor Spares Collective. This group helps them buy genuine car parts more easily and at lower prices. They can just send a WhatsApp message to order parts online, and usually, they get them within a day.

This saves Themba a lot of time and money, so he can focus on fixing cars and serving more customers. The cooperative also gives them business advice, helps with skills training, and even offers help to register their garages officially.

Also, a new law from 2020 made it easier for car owners to get their cars fixed by independent mechanics like Themba without losing their warranties. This has opened the door for township mechanics to get more business.

With many people keeping their cars longer and looking for affordable repairs, the demand for mechanics is high. The Motor Spares Collective helps Themba and others meet this demand by making sure they have the parts they need — fast.