AUTOFORUM

Bloemfontein apprentice wins national gold and secures place at WorldSkills International

Mar 13, 2026 WorldSkills South Africa (WSZA) National Competition, South African Motor Body Repair (SAMBRA), Motheo TVET College, Vuyane Ndamane, Mesuli Nande Gxalaba

Bloemfontein apprentice wins national gold and secures place at WorldSkills International

A Bloemfontein autobody repair apprentice has won the gold medal in the Autobody Repair category at the WorldSkills South Africa (WSZA) National Competition, securing his place to represent South Africa on the global stage. Mesuli Nande Gxalaba (21), an apprentice at Technicolour Autobody Repair in Bloemfontein, a South African Motor Body Repair (SAMBRA) accredited workshop, emerged as the national gold medallist during the competition held from 8 – 12 March at the Chief Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.

As the national winner, Gxalaba will now go on to represent South Africa at the WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai, China, in September 2026. The competition also saw strong performances from fellow Free State competitors. Setlhare Onthatile Motlomelo (21), also from Technicolour scooped silver while Sizwe Motaung (22) from B&H Panelbeaters in Bloemfontein secured the bronze medal highlighting the strength of talent emerging from the region.

All three competitors are apprentices linked to Motheo TVET College, whose training programmes continue to produce highly skilled artisans capable of competing at national level. Vuyane Ndamane, Autobody Repairs Facilitator at Motheo TVET College and coach to the competitors, says the results are a testament to the dedication and determination shown by the apprentices throughout the competition. “I am extremely proud of the team. They demonstrated not only a high level of technical ability and passion for the trade, but also resilience, hard work and tenacity throughout the competition,” says Ndamane.

While the national results are a significant achievement, Ndamane says the focus now shifts to preparing Gxalaba for the international stage. “The real work begins now as we prepare Mesuli for the international competition, which is just five months away. Our focus is to secure the right level of specialised training and industry support to ensure he can compete at global standards.” Ndamane has played a key role in preparing the competitors for the national competition, working closely with industry partners such as Technicolour Autobody Repair, which supported the training process by providing access to the tools, equipment and workplace exposure aligned with international autobody repair standards.

For Gxalaba, the victory reflects months of intensive preparation. “After winning provincials we trained like crazy - every minute counted. We were hungry for that global podium, and Shanghai was always the goal,” he says. “Representing South Africa, Motheo TVET College, Technicolour and the motor industry as a whole is something I’m incredibly proud of.”

WorldSkills South Africa forms part of the global WorldSkills International movement, which promotes vocational and technical excellence across more than 70 member countries and provides a platform for young artisans to benchmark their skills against international standards.

“For South Africa’s automotive sector, the success of competitors like Gxalaba highlights the depth of talent emerging through technical training and apprenticeships, reinforcing the importance of continued investment in artisan development and industry partnerships. We are delighted that participants from two of our SAMBRA shops were able to perform so strongly. This bodes well for the future of the MBR sector,” says Louis van Huyssteen, National Training Director at the RMI. As preparations begin for Shanghai in 2026, the focus now turns to ensuring South Africa’s newest national champion is equipped to compete with the best young autobody repair technicians in the world.