Most car owners have experienced the dread that comes with having an accident, filing a police report, dealing with insurance and then leaving your pride and joy with a panelbeater, hoping that it comes back in tip-top condition.
This is even more nerve-wracking if you live outside of the country’s main centres, which is where Kelebogile Mothelesi saw a gap in the market and has been building a reputation for quality automotive repair work in Kuruman in the Northern Cape.
Over time, 3K’s Auto Body Repairs has grown from a one-person operation into a small workshop employing six people to ensure motorists in rural areas have access to the same standard of repair work available in major cities.
A qualified spray painter and semi-skilled boiler maker, Mothelesi launched her business during the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since officially opening its doors in September 2023, the workshop has serviced more than 300 vehicles, largely through word-of-mouth referrals.
Early passion for cars
Mothelesi’s interest in cars began at a young age. She credits her late father for teaching her the importance of looking after vehicles, both mechanically and cosmetically.
That early exposure led her to pursue formal training at Kimberley College, where she qualified as a spray painter. It was during her studies that she developed a deeper appreciation for the craft.
“I fell in love with it,” she says, explaining how she began paying close attention to the finer details on vehicles, from paint imperfections to poorly repaired bodywork.
Building industry experience
After entering the industry in 2017 and qualifying in October 2020, she gained practical experience working at BMW in Cape Town as well as at various panel beating shops.
Those years helped her refine her skills before returning to Kuruman to establish a professional panel beating and spray painting operation in her hometown.
At the time, many local motorists struggled to have vehicles repaired through insurance channels, as work was often redirected to larger urban repair centres.
Start-up to growing workshop
After registering the business in 2020, she gradually built the business before formally launching operations three years later.
With few local repair options available, motorists quickly began bringing vehicles to the workshop.
The client base has since expanded from fewer than 100 customers in the early days to more than 300 vehicles repaired.
Skills development
In 2024, Mothelesi joined the Auto Repair and Collision Programme run by Anglo American’s Zimele initiative in partnership with 3M and Super Auto Paints in Durban.
The programme focuses on developing skills in panel beating and automotive spray painting while helping participants build sustainable businesses.
Mothelesi initially attended with a single employee to improve their technical capabilities. During the training, an instructor recognised her potential and encouraged her to participate in additional programmes aimed at developing entrepreneurs in the automotive sector.
“They sparked the fire in me,” she says, describing how the programme helped sharpen her focus on growing the business.
Overcoming industry scepticism
Like many women entering a traditionally male-dominated trade, Mothelesi encountered scepticism along the way.
Despite that, she continued to build the business and develop her skills.
Her advice to other women considering the trade is persistence.
“As long as people keep developing cars, there will always be a job,” she says.
Future growth
Today, 3K’s Auto Body Repairs is known locally for its attention to detail and clean repair work. Mothelesi says customers are often surprised at how seamlessly damaged panels can be restored.
Her long-term goal is to expand the workshop into a fully equipped facility employing between 50 and 60 people.
Beyond growing the business, she hopes the workshop will create opportunities for young people in the Kuruman area to develop skills within the automotive repair industry.
From a single-person operation launched during the pandemic to a growing workshop servicing hundreds of vehicles, Mothelesi’s business reflects the demand for skilled automotive services beyond South Africa’s major cities.
Willem van de Putte
iol.co.za
