Independent car mechanics in South Africa have long faced challenges accessing spare parts due the buying power of large urban car repair chains. Now a cooperative is bringing township mechanics together to give them a fairer slice of the pie.

Johannesburg

Independent mechanics in South Africa have traditionally struggled to access spare parts, often spending hours searching for components and losing valuable work time. A new cooperative is changing this by pooling the buying power of township mechanics, enabling them to obtain parts more efficiently and compete with larger service centres.

The cooperative charges a monthly membership fee and provides additional benefits such as skills development, business registration assistance, and plans to expand into social services. This initiative is helping level the playing field for independent mechanics, who can now focus more on their work and less on sourcing parts.

South Africa's independent mechanics compete with big companies

Independent mechanic Temba Maseko is hard at work fixing a car outside his small repair shop in Sakane Township, about 50km east of Johannesburg. His job just became a lot easier thanks to a new cooperative that gives mechanics like him quick and easy access to the spare parts they need. Most of the time you see, I can leave and then go to springs and see, maybe to Kotwal and look for something. Then spend hours in the queue only to find out whatever you're looking for is not there. So now with the cooperative it's going to be much easier. I make a call, they look for space for me, then they just bring it to me, so it's much better. I don't have to go and stand in the queue. Time is a big thing for a local mechanic. We lose time for three, four hours at the spare shop where the cars could have been worked on. So if we can bring the spares to you, you can be productive. South Africa's right to repair laws allow car owners to use independent mechanics without losing their warranty. But with no access to parts, township mechanics were still disadvantaged. Now the buying power of the collective helps them compete with larger service centres. All of the mechanics we've spoken to and surveyed, everyone has to go and buy space. So they're consumers and we're just flipping it around and saying, OK, here's a vehicle where you can become a beneficiary from your own use and consumption because in any event you have to buy space. Membership costs $10 a month. Beyond spare parts, the collective offers skills development and help with business registration and financing. It's planning to expand into life insurance and other social services.

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