01 Dec 2016

 A number of youth have benefited from the Youth Development Fund (YDF) and Mr Mothusi Namogang is one such youth whose life has changed for good thanks to the fund which sponsored his tyre services business that later evolved into a garage.

In 2010 Mr Namogang submitted his tyre service proposal to the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development as he always had a dream of owning a business.

He said he made some business research in Mmadinare and found out that there were few tyre services which motivated him to venture into that business. His proposal was approved in 2011 at around P100 000  and was able to buy all the necessary machinery which among others included tyre changer, compressor, generator and tyre lever.

Mr Namogang noticed that the business was not doing well at the time because of lack of electricity at the workshop and opted to use a generator but noticed that it was more costly, noting that because of his background in mechanical in engineering he decided to shift to fixing and repairing motor vehicles and tractors, panel beating, spray painting and welding.

The new business, he said,  did well and was proud of all the achievements he had since he got assisted from government. He has employed four full time employees and wish to hire two more temporary labourers as there is more work during rainy seasons.

Mr Namogang said that rainy seasons were his peak time as farmers bring their tractors for maintenance, noting that this time he attends to about three tractors per day and on normal days he attends to an average of four cars in a month.

He said he has clients in Bobonong, Lerala, Sefhophe, Serule, Tonota, Mogapinyana and some areas in the North East and sometimes he travels to their respective areas to render his services.

A Junior Certificate holder, Mr Namogang explained that he was admitted at Tswelelopelo Brigade in Ramotswa where his passion for fixing and repairing motor vehicles was ignited.

The intended purpose was to pursue a National Craft Certificate in Auto Mechanics; unfortunately he dropped out in his first year of studying.

Driven by his determination to succeed in life in 2008 he crossed over to Zambia where he joined a certain workshop in Livingstone and worked as a labourer. He trained for heavy plant mechanics and learnt to fix and repair tractors for six months and was able to come back home with a good reference. Upon arrival he joined his uncle who then had a garage and worked for him as an assistant until he started his own business.

He pointed out that he is in need of the trailer or recovery vehicle that he moves vehicles to his workshop to avoid moving from one village to the other. He appreciated the assistance he received from the ministry of youth as “I am now my own boss”. ENDS