WeeklySA_AdminEYE-OPENER: Stumbling on information about Merseta became life-changing experience as business flourished
By Bongiwe Mkhwanazi
Twenty-six years ago, two Soweto cousins started their mechanics from the humble beginnings of the backyard of their home, never thinking that it would one day grow beyond their expectations.
This is the success story of Dalisu Shoba (46) and his cousin, Abraham Maselwa (46) started the business at their Meadowlands home, as retold by Bongani Shoba (50) about the birth of the family’s business when it was started by his younger brother, Dalisu. As their business grew, they moved to a coal-yard in Meadowlands before relocating Zone 5 adjacent to the vandalised Meadowland hostel, Bongani said.
Their company which goes by the name of JBL Engineering has two workshops, the Maselwa Mechanical engineering, which specialises in fixing different vehicle models while Shoba Auto Clinic sspecialises in repairing BMWs.
They also do wheel alignment and precision automotive mechanics for which they are also fully registered to do, the brothers said.
Bongani, whose background is in housing said he was once accredited by a Construction SETA and that’s when he got know about the existence of a SETA.
“With motor mechanics, this was just a coincidence and I got to know about it when I was helping my brothers with their paperwork,“ Bongani said. Meanwhile, scores of people randomly surveyed by Weekly SA Mirror for the past three weeks for interviews did not believe that SETA’s actually exist or are legitimate, claiming after some of the SETA officials who visited them three years ago sold them a pie in the sky.
However, it was a different case with the Shoba and Maswela cousins, who have had a life-changing experience – thanks to Merseta.
“To the doubting Thomas’ SETAs do exist, they help and we are the living examples,” said Bongani Shoba who has been helping his brother and cousins run their business. Dalisu said they would have long started training engineers if they had received correct advice on how the process worked.
“Three years ago, we were visited by the officials who promised us heaven and earth after signing their visitation forms, but nothing happened there after,” Dalisu said. It was only after his brother, Bongani, who offered to help them with the Merseta training application that they got registered. He got involved and learned the process through their new National Skills Development Management System.
“We got lucky after registering for one of our workshops,” Bongani said. This was fter testing if the system was legitimate by registering one of their workshops with two apprentices who do motor mechanics in January 2020.
Bongani said he also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Western FET at Molapo so they could refer students who have completed their diploma and needed on-the-job training.
“We have two female and four male trainees, and we hope to get more and empower the youth,” Bongani said. He then registered the second workshop, Shoba Mechanic before he could spread the word to their friends.
Friends operate Bosch workshops in Diepkloof, Tshiawelo and Germiston, also registered with Merseta after he informed them about the whole process.
They now have placed 12 apprentices in the three-workshop, including those trained by Shoba and Maselwa centres. Bongani said COVID-19 interrupted business and training as a result these interns trained only for nine months.
He said Maselwa was the first company to host interns in Soweto while others following suit.
The biggest challenge is not having skilled human resources, we do not even have anyone to train among us.
“We do not have skills in administration of business, we have financial challenges and sometimes we train people who later leave, resulting in lack of continuity.
“I still need to understand the whole process, be accountable than to be excited that we got money from a Merseta,” Bongani said
Listening to Bongani’s account of their challenges, it becomes apparent that there is a need for mechanic workshop operators to learn to collaborate so they can uplift one another.
“We need to collaborate, not become partners; sharing information and collaboration is key,” he said.
*People who have registered and are getting funding from the Shoba’s could get discretionary and mandatory grants.*They can also benefit by training and retraining their own staff to gain other skills needed in the business.
