AUTOFORUM

Motor Mech's Free State debut - promising young automotive talent

Jun 26, 2026 Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), Motor Mech competition, Dewald Ranft, Christo Preez, Dr Böhmer School of Skills

Motor Mech's Free State debut - promising young automotive talent

Christo Preez from Dr Böhmer School of Skills crowned overall winner at the first-ever Free State edition of the Motor Industry Workshop Association's (MIWA) Motor Mech competition, hosted at Martie Du Plessis High School. Tsegofatso Kgasapane from HTS Louis Botha took second place and Geraldo Pieterse from Dr Böhmer School of Skills securing third place.

Hosted as part of the annual Cars in the Park event, the competition gave learners from three local technical schools including HTS Louis Botha, Dr Böhmer School of Skills and Heatherdale Technical High School the opportunity to test their automotive knowledge and practical skills while engaging directly with industry professionals.

"The success of this inaugural event in the Free State exceeded our expectations," says Dewald Ranft, MIWA National Chairperson. "What stood out was the enthusiasm of the learners, the support from the schools and the commitment shown by the judges and industry representatives throughout the day."

For Christo, winning the competition was both a proud moment and an important step towards achieving his career goals. "I am very proud of winning," he says. "It motivates me to pursue a career in the automotive industry. I found the practical section most challenging, but the support and reassurance from the judges helped me overcome the pressure.” His advice to other young people considering a career in the automotive industry is simple: "Never give up on your dreams."

The runners-up were equally positive about their experience. Both learners said the competition taught them valuable lessons about working under pressure and boosted their confidence. "The competition taught us that we can perform under pressure and surprised us in many ways. Taking part has given us more confidence and confirmed that this is definitely the career we want to pursue," they said.

The educational value of the competition was echoed by participating schools. Following the event, Dr Böhmer School of Skills thanked MIWA and the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) and its partners for creating an opportunity that provided learners with valuable practical exposure, hands-on experience and insight into the motor mechanics industry. “Participation had helped our learners develop technical skills, build confidence and gain a better understanding of career opportunities within the automotive sector. We also noted a noticeable increase in learner motivation, practical ability and enthusiasm for learning following the competition.”

The competition also drew praise from local judges. One of the judges Francois Greef, said the overall standard of competition was encouraging. "The competition was a great success and met our expectations. The learners demonstrated strong theoretical knowledge, although there is still room to further develop practical workshop experience." Greef believes initiatives such as Motor Mech play an important role in strengthening the future skills pipeline and attracting potential future artisans. “They provide learners with valuable exposure to the opportunities available within the sector."

Jonathan Stanfley, MIWA Regional Representative, said the judges went beyond simply assessing performance.

"What really stood out for me was how they engaged with every learner, even after they had been eliminated from the competition," he says. "They took the time to go through the papers, explain where mistakes had been made and provide guidance. During the practical assessments they also encouraged finalists who felt overwhelmed, helping them manage the pressure and perform to the best of their abilities."

Junior van der Walt, a teacher at HTS Louis Botha, added that the event had been valuable from both an educational and career development perspective. "The learners were incredibly enthusiastic throughout the competition and the support from the judges was particularly important as it helped learners cope with stress while building their confidence," he says. He believes the success of the inaugural event will encourage even greater participation in future. "It means a great deal for our school to be involved in an event that celebrates technical excellence and highlights career opportunities within the automotive industry. The results achieved this year will certainly motivate more learners to participate,” says van der Walt.

Ranft says Motor Mech continues to demonstrate the value of exposing young people to the opportunities available within the automotive aftermarket. "South Africa needs more skilled artisans, and initiatives such as Motor Mech help us identify talent, build confidence and inspire future careers. Beyond the competition itself, learners gain practical experience and a better understanding of the opportunities available within our industry. The enthusiasm we witnessed in Bloemfontein confirms the strong interest and potential that exists within the Free State, and we look forward to growing the competition in the region in the years ahead."