The journey to Orange Farm is a colourful one. A place where just about every Toyota Venture that has ever rolled off the factory floor has found its final role in, carting workers to and from their places of work. The Ventures, all of which have had their engines swapped for a Ford Bantam 1400 engine (cost reasons, I’m told) and most of which are likely to have been worked on by Jacob Malakoana, the head honcho of Malakoana Auto Mechanics, the workshop that services the area. The streets are buzzing with activity and randomness.
“The network that we made when joining filpro is something I value. Everyone specializes in their own skills and we share it”
Children kick a ball in the street while a local balaclava wearing drifter carries a sack and lets out a rather menacing laugh, buses seem to drive off into nowhere, passing the nearby corner shop as they do. Children behind a chain link fence laugh as their photos get taken. “Ama-shooter,” they say and strike a pose. No doubt directly from some magazine. An interesting place if ever I’ve been to one. There’s a Mercedes SL500 parked out front of Jacob’s workshop. I shudder to ask what motor is in there. Best to live in ignorance. Jacob greets us at the door. He’s been expecting us, if the giant handwritten sign on the door is anything to go by, marking the date and time of our pre-arranged meeting.
The yard is organized chaos. I can’t determine what exactly is happening and who the employees are. Later I’m told that most of them, eleven in total, are his family Jacob employed from the community and want to use this business to improve their lives. Jacob’s warm, inviting personality fills the room as we discuss his journey with Filpro.
“There’s no guarantee in life. If you get a chance, go for it “
His sense of community extends to the point where he’s offered to store trucks for individuals rent-free. Having grown up in the community, if Jacob could, he would employ everyone. Such is his generosity.
After finishing school, Jacob took over the backyard business from his father, who now can’t work anymore due to blindness. But still, he comes to the workshop every day and sits outside on a bench, to be near to the daily action—a mentor to Jacob, a pillar of strength. After meeting the Filpro team, they helped locate the new place, the yard and workshop we find ourselves in today, which was donated by the local municipality.
Through the Filpro program, Jacob obtained his trade test certificate and discovered he had the rare skill of being one of the few workshop owners who would tackle rebuilding gearboxes and differentials.
Choosing to follow a life of compliance before Filpro arrived, he registered the business as a legal entity and tax payer. This made the onboarding process somewhat easier, allowing Jacob to focus on getting the necessary trade certificates – five in total through Filpro, he says with pride. This together with the tools that Filpro provided he has deployed into daily operations to help improve his service delivery.
Of staff who have come and gone, Jacob counts five in total who have gone on to start their own workshops. Even so, his attitude is supportive in nature. Having this yard to work fromstill requires some processing from the municipality before he can build a bigger shed to work from, including a perimeter wall. This would allow Jacob to obtain a contract with the South African Police Services. At one point Jacob fixed a few vehicles for the Police without permission as they were struggling to effectively patrol the area without working vehicles. He got into trouble for that. “I got into trouble for doing the right thing but in the wrong way”. What’s that thing about no good deed going unpunished?
The slow bureaucratic turnaround and many other service delivery issues plague Orange Farm and similar places in this country. Just imagine what could be achieved if we had quicker turnarounds together with programs like Filpro. I joke that perhaps someone from the municipality may be reading this. When servicing vehicles, Jacob only recommends OEM parts.
After the GUD filters factory tour, he is now a believer, spreading the OEM gospel before going off on a tangent on single versus three-pin spark plugs. I’m impressed. There have been many candidate workers who have come through this workshop—two of them ladies. Again, stereotypes are being broken. “And guess what”? Jacob asks,” They’re good! Women are fast learners.”
Along with improving the property on which he has based his business, Jacob wants to expand the services by employing more people from the community. No doubt, most will be women. “There’s no guarantee in life.” says Jacob who, every Saturday, holds a meeting in this same room and encourages the community to join in and discuss ways to improve their lives. He encourages his staff to get their car licenses to become more mobile and to invest in a house. Filpro chose a perfect candidate who could double up as a motivational speaker, using his position to influence positively.
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Well done Jacob
Well done hope you grow from strength to strength.
Well done. Keep it up. Good Story!!
Well done good luck for the future
Well done and good luck
What a good story Jacob, following on and growing the family business, and empowering others to be able to provide a much needed service. Jacob certainly “took the chance and went for it” and I hope the business continues to grow.
Jacob without any doubt you are a true inspiration to others. Keep it up and good will follow.
Jacob’s story is an inspiration,you went out and got 5 trade certificates with the help of FILPRO.Glad you let your dad still be part of the team,all the very best for you and the future of Malakoana Auto Mechanics.
Well done to Jacob on your success.
Every community needs leaders like Jacob to take charge. Well done.
Well done and good luck Jacob.