Another Filpro partner story. This time it is out in Mogale city, approximately 60 km from Soweto and home to the Kagiso informal settlement which gave its name to the business that stands here today. Founded by Kenneth Ramonisi and Trever Ntsenya it is a business premises that is jam-packed with just about every vehicle one can think of. There are government ambulances, farming implements in the form of a Lamborghini tractor, multiple workhorses from South African roads, the one-ton bakkie and another status symbol of South African motoring, the Mercedes C Class (Trevor’s specialty).
“We can teach someone to make money using their own hands…empowering people”
As we walk through the busy workshop, another ambulance is being dropped off. It is the biggest of its kind and belongs to the nearby Leratong Hospital. The medic is a bit shy to get into the picture, but it’s a healthy sign that business is good. “Where are you going to park this thing? I ask. “We’ll make space”, Trevor replies with a smirk. Creative packing of the township kind. But it wasn’t always like that for Kenneth and Trevor. They too started from grassroots beginnings.
Filpro’s intervention came about in 2013 through Mdu finding Kenneth and Trevor, who were operating on the side streets of Kagiso. Before that, Trevor had arrived in South Africa from Zimbabwe in 2009, escaping the failed economy there.
“Kagiso means “Peace” in Zulu. “
Like many Zimbabweans, he worked on the streets without a real base, surviving hand to mouth. Originally from Meadowlands in Soweto, Kenneth’s path would converge with Trevor’s, with them deciding that a partnership would suit the greater good. They moved operations from individual street corners to the backyard of where Trevor was living. Kenneth’s view on life is positive, deciding that he needed to make something of his life and motor mechanics was the answer. We often find the sadder stories of when people like Kenneth choose the opposite. This isn’t that though.
Skills, like how to run a business and attracting customers after registering the company, were part of the initial interactions with the program, sparking a shift in thinking. This saw a move to an adjacent smaller unit before the larger one we’re in today, a sign that Kagiso Auto-tec was on the move and expanding. We joke about the current place being too small already. I’m assured that there are expansion plans along with offering other services like a body repair shop and car wash, but I need to keep some things a secret.
There’s no need to give the entire game away, but they better move quickly. Even now, the pair are keen to invest more into softer business skills, like artisan certificates, which cost in the region of R15,000 to R25,000. Education in this country is not cheap. But the guys are eager to make it happen. The role of mentorship comes up. Both Trevor and Kenneth rely heavily on Filpro to fill that gap, involving many calls to Mdu to cross many unknown challenges in business. As we sit here in this establishment, we must not forget those challenges.
Equipped with the workshop, necessary tools and insurance certificates, Kagiso Auto-tec (Pty) Ltd was ready to get their first government contract. It took two years. Trevor raises the customer perception challenge that when moving from the informal sector to being an established business, people automatically think you’re going to raise your prices. After experiencing a drop off in customers, Kenneth and Trevor addressed the need to find new customers through word of mouth and other basic marketing methods such as pamphlet drops at traffic intersections. Kenneth and Trevor focus on community upliftment by hiring locals from the nearby Kagiso informal settlement. That way, they’re doing their part in providing the opportunity for locals to improve their lives. There are four permanent employees, one of which was working on a timing chain for the Mercedes C-Class. “Nature” is from Kagiso. Trevor tells me that he is “coming along
good”. Something that isn’t plainly evident is that these workshops have become education centres themselves. The pneumatic impact drill can be heard throughout the conversation, the universal sound that bonds all workshops and mechanical operations. It’s a high-pitched noise that’s strangely comforting. An unwritten exchange program exists between workshops like Kagiso Auto-tec and others, where tools are shared. Tools not everyone can invest in as it’s expensive. This is another example of creative problem-solving we find here in South Africa. Working with the government, there is no compromise on using the best consumable parts and ensuring that customers get the best quality through OEM channels. There are times when quality second-hand parts can be used, especially in the case of these German luxury sedans, but it’s become a skill learnt to accommodate the budgets of a customer base that doesn’t earn a lot.
Trust is also big in Kagiso Auto-Tec, trusting in the right quality parts, Trusting in the people who work for you to deliver the right work based on the learnings and trust in a partnership. That trust-based value system has worked well for Kagiso Auto-tec, and I’m convinced their achievements will continue. With the growing unemployment rates in South Africa post covid, expanding workshops like Kagiso Auto-Tec can make a real difference on the ground by employing more youth. The Filpro program is a positive cog in that machine.
like this
Weel done again I am impressed. Hard work pays off. We need to take the youngsters in NGK to go meet these people and see what can be accomplished through perserverience.
Keep going Kenneth and Trevor…. with Filpro behind you you will get there. You will not look back if you work for yourselves. Customer service and communication are key. Keep up the good work guys!
Well done to FILPRO and NGK on assisting Kenneth and Trevor with their partnership,they seem to be booming in business and that is really good news with the economic crisis we all dealing with.Im sure the many calls they made to Mdu will be rewarding with their business challanges.All the best for your future plans.
Well done guys, to flourish in this time of age is incredible. keep it up!!
Well done guys, hopefully you inspire others to go on to great things
Keep up the good work gents.