In the busy township of Tsakane, 50 km from Johannesburg, Themba Maseko wipes oil off his hands and jumps between cars, barely catching his breath. He’s not alone—across South Africa, township mechanics like him are pushing back against the dominance of big auto service chains.
The game-changer? A new initiative called the Motor Spares Collective. It’s not just a WhatsApp group—it’s power. Township mechanics now pool their orders for car parts, cutting out middlemen and saving time and money. For Maseko, this has meant faster deliveries, less time wasted chasing parts, and more time doing what he loves—fixing cars.
“Before, I’d spend hours in line. Sometimes there were no parts left,” says Maseko. “Now it’s cheaper, faster, and we get real spares.”
Township Mechanics Use WhatsApp to Outsmart the System
The collective allows mechanics to place parts orders on WhatsApp and receive authentic spares within 24 hours. That alone solves one of the biggest issues these businesses face—time.
“All a mechanic sells is time,” says Amanda Gcabashe, who helped launch the collective through UBU Investment Holdings. She’s right. In townships, repairs are fast-paced. Walk-in customers want quick fixes, fair prices, and no nonsense.
Mechanics don’t have time to queue. They need to work.
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Regulation Shift Boosts Township Auto Shops
South Africa’s 2020 “right to repair” law changed the game. It means car owners can now get their vehicles serviced by independent township mechanics without losing their warranties. This was a long-overdue win for local businesses.
And it couldn’t have come at a better time. Since the pandemic, people have been holding on to older cars. Pre-owned vehicles now outsell new ones, and they need regular care. Township garages offer affordable, skilled service just around the corner.
It’s About More Than Just Cars
The Motor Spares Collective charges just $10 a month in its first year. But it offers more than just parts—it provides tools, business support, and even life insurance packages.
“It’s not just a hustle anymore,” says Dorian Slimmerts, another mechanic in the collective. “We’re building a business, something real.”
With over 700,000 small businesses across South Africa and more than 21 million people living in townships, the market is massive. The informal sector already generates $33 billion a year—over 6% of GDP, according to Lesaka.
“It’s a market that can’t be ignored,” says Bulelani Balabala of the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance. He’s right. And township mechanics are proving that when local tradespeople unite, they don’t just survive—they thrive.
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