The wheels are in motion for the official launch of the 2025 Motor Mech season that hopes to shift gears and gather interest among the youth to enter the engineering and automotive industry.
The Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud member of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), will host its first show on June 21 at Port Rex Technical High School in East London, and launch its new bursary scheme for aspiring automotive professionals.
MIWA national director Pieter Niemand said Motor Mech had always been about showcasing the opportunities the automotive aftermarket offered young South Africans.
“MIWA remains committed to creating platforms that encourage young talent to explore careers in our industry.
“With the unemployment crisis facing our youth, events such as Motor Mech highlight the many rewarding career paths available in the automotive aftermarket — an industry that remains vibrant, evolving, and essential to the economy.”
The 2025 show will continue the tradition of offering an exciting mix of education and entertainment, with local workshops, suppliers and dealers showcasing their work alongside a competitive skills-based showdown between pupils vying for the coveted title of Motor Mech Junior Mechanic.
The 2025 show will also include a spirited interschools sports derby day between Hudson Park High School and Port Rex Technical High School, along with a children’s area hosted by the schools’ Interact clubs, raising funds for their youth-led community projects.
It will also include the SA Institution of Civil Engineering’s bridge building competition, where pupils from local schools will compete in a hands-on Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) challenge, adding an exciting new engineering dimension to the event.
MIWA intends to use the launch event to unveil a new initiative to provide full bursaries for selected Motor Mech competition participants to train as qualified motor mechanics from 2026 to 2028.
“This project is a game-changer,” Niemand said.
“It provides real opportunity and real access to technical careers, while addressing skills shortages in our industry.
“Through initiatives such as this, we’re turning potential into purpose.”
Entry is R20 per adult, with children under 12 free if accompanied by an adult.
The Herald
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