Nathan always wanted to follow in his mechanic father’s footsteps, by working on cars. However, growing up in Pietermaritzburg, he realised that opportunities would not be as good there as in the city of gold, Johannesburg. Migrant labour is common in South Africa, forcing breadwinners to leave their homes and families in order to make money.
One of the many issues aspirant mechanics like Nathan faced when arriving in Johannesburg was the lack of faith everyone had when confronted with a youthful, inexperienced mechanic. This was a common theme amongst all workshop owners I spoke with.
“I changed my thinking. From a backyard mechanic mentality to a proper business owner”
In a series of fate-driven episodes, Nathan went from being a taxi driver/part-time mechanic to following a girl (I never found myself asking what became of this relationship) to Windhoek. There a workshop owner approached him to rebuild an engine for a Nissan that would transport people from the Namibian capital to the Angolan border. ‘Facing fear’ is a theme that would continue in his life knowing that he never quite had enough experience. There is a lesson in that and that sometimes the journey isn’t as quick as we’d like it to be, but patience and trust in the process are essential.
Good things like the Filpro program would eventually come, which it did in 2012. Before that, Namibia became an independent nation, forcing Nathan to choose between either becoming a Namibian citizen or returning to South Africa and starting afresh once more.
“The most important thing to me is to do things properly”
Wanting to be near his family, he returned home and started a job with Toyota in 1995. Nathan’s tenacity to grow saw him working on cars in his spare time, keeping the side hustle alive. He vividly recalls the freezing conditions of working on cars while exposed to the icy, dry West Rand winters. It’s a different type of cold there. Another pivot in Nathan’s career spawned from curiosity. It saw Nathan doing graphic design for a sign-making business. He went to honour a contract for a week and ended up working there for five years. The MacBook on the table, which for a regular mechanic seemed a little out of place to me at first, now makes sense.
But all these odd jobs and lack of singular vision changed when Filpro found him, giving him the chance to make his dream a reality. For the backyard mechanic, another fear was the process of having to register a business. Paying taxes and administrative duties amongst many ‘extra’ tasks loomed. Still, workshop owners like Nathan bought into the concept, trusting it despite any reservations, and they would come to realise its potential and eventual benefit
in teaching them how to run a business. Slowly, lessons were learnt and put into everyday business life, for example hiring a receptionist to handle all the administrative work like bookings, invoicing and following up on payment. Understanding the power of leverage and creating jobs for the community made all the difference for Nathan as did the much-needed tools, such as a car lift, air tools and an air compressor, all of which Filpro provided.
In further good fortune, when faced with rising operational costs an opportunity arose to attract a healthy contract from SA Taxi Finance which would do more than cover the costs. One more twist of fate where patience is rewarded. Through the program, Nathan got his artisan certificate, which opened more doors, such as registering with the RMI, an industry body. It was a smooth transition into the program, with lessons learnt from Filpro helping. The factory tours of the manufacturing process for OEM parts were vital for Nathan, who used that process to understand why OEM parts are so important when selling to customers
like Eric, who earlier arrived in his Ford Bantam. Eric services the telecom infrastructure in the area. Seeing how quality products like oil filters, brake pads and spark plugs are made reinforced the value which could be conveyed to customers. Knowledge, I’m reminded, is power. We crack on about the opportunities afforded, and there’s a time when Nathan was asked to do public speaking. I reply, saying this is way more challenging than building an engine. There’s some laughter, and I’m left appreciating that opportunities like Filpro can afford life skills otherwise never taught beyond the evident trade-linked hard skills.
Now employing seven staff, including two whose internships were paid for through the program, it has been a rewarding experience for Nathan. Nathan’s approach has always been to go out there, engage, take a chance, not knowing what can happen. For Nathan, it’s paid off, but he’s not resting there. Plans are afoot to expand and build a bigger company and find new premises. I’m sure Nathan will make good on his dreams one day soon. Along with Eric, who might have upgraded to a Ford Ranger by then.
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The more I read these stories I see men with courage and passion. The eagerness to progress is inspiring.
It’s so awesome how hard work and determination will Alana stars in your favour
Well done Nathan, your story is so inspirational. Sometimes we have to do a job to put food on the table and not necessarily what our passion is. But like you i eventual got there in the end and have my own mechanical workshop. There is no greater joy than getting up in the morning and going to work and doing what you love everyday. Keep up the good work.
What a good and positive example! Keep on growing and encouraging others to grow with you.
Really glad you managed to follow your fathers footsteps Nathan,Im sure he will be really proud of your growth in the mechanical business.Choosing to move back to South Africa really worked out,all the best for your visions expanding and well done on FILPRO for providing the tools,hoist and compressor to Nathan.
Well done you are doing good. Good attitude strongs for the future
AWESOME NATHAN! WHAT A STORY
What an amazing story Nathan