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ECDC in partnership with automotive sector enterprise development company Filpro has resumed its R2 million support programme aimed at growing the competitiveness of 137 informal automotive mechanics in Mdantsane outside East London.

Launched in July 2019, the two-year programme was temporarily interrupted by Covid-19 and it has resumed with a package of mentorship support packages under level 2. The programme is rolled out in partnership with Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC). The programme benefits 300 people which includes the employees of the 137 business owners. 

The 137 mechanics include 106 motor mechanics, 18 panel beaters, four auto electricians and nine spares shops who received product training in order to improve their revenues and competitiveness. Graduated enterprises are supported workshop tools through a partnership with organisations such as Atlas Copco.  Atlas Copco has provided tools worth more than R4 million to mechanics in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and in the Nelson Mandela Bay over the last three years.

This was announced by the three partners last week in East London where they donated 40 sanitising water tanks to 20 schools throughout the province. Each school received two tanks with a 420 litre capacity in order to help alleviate the spread of Covid-19 among needy schools. In addition, sanitising soaps as well as a year’s supply of sanitary pads were distributed to school girls as well as stationery sets to boys and girls. Filpro has manufactured 200 tanks at a cost of R500 000 which were bought by Atlas Copco and donated to schools in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.

“While we sought to kickstart our mechanics development programme under Level 2 of the lockdown we realised that we need to provide support to the automotive industry to deal with the effects of the coronavirus. We therefore distributed 50 sanitising water tanks to taxi ranks in Gauteng, KZN and Limpopo worth R250 000. The taxi industry forms a critical component of Filpro’s development initiatives. Filpro is grateful to the role played by Atlas Copco in providing the financial injection needed to make a meaningful impact. 

We are also grateful to the ECDC for the partnership which has enabled us to roll the enterprise development programme which has yielded to the benefit of the schools with sanitising water tanks. This initiative ties in well with the mechanics development programme whose primary objective is to uplift informal service centres (backyard mechanics) in previously disadvantaged areas. Filpro was co-founded by automotive parts manufacturers GUD Holdings and NGK Spark Plugs as their contribution in revitalising the township economy,” says Filpro project manager Mduduzi Mahlalela.

Mahlalela says already 80 informal auto mechanics in Gauteng are qualified trade mechanics through training provided by Filpro partner, the AA Technical Centre. The programme is offered at no cost to the mechanics. 

Headquartered in Nacka Sweden, multinational industrial company, Atlas Copco, which specialises in compressors, generators, assembly tools, pumps, and light towers used across industries says its participation and support of the mechanics development programme and the roll out of Covid-19 supplies forms part of its Group sustainability goals

“We have a longstanding relationship with Filpro on various initiatives. We participated in the funding of the sanitising water tanks because we realise that people safety is critical to organisational sustainability. This is just one way in which we are playing our role in reducing the impact of socio-economic challenges exacerbated by Covid-19. Atlas Copco is also pleased that the mechanics development programme has resumed which will provide the necessary tools and packages to ensure the competitiveness of the informal sector is improved,” says Atlas Copco communications professional for Sub-Saharan Africa Noluthando Zondo.

ECDC chief executive officer Ndzondelelo Dlulane says ECDC is committed to co-funding the programme both in financial and non-financial support. For example, ECDC will also offer marketing, marketing access and business development support for the auto mechanics through the corporation’s business support services. 

“It was only logical that we start the programme in Mdantsane, it being the biggest township in the Eastern Cape. These auto mechanic informal businesses are employment creators and ECDC is committed to supporting any activity that contributes to a sustainable economic development of the province. The end goal is to build accredited businesses which are compliant and registered with industry organisations, this will contribute to expanding market access for these enterprises and therefore contributing towards their sustainability.” says Dlulane.

Issued by Eastern Cape Development Corporation