The Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA) brought its Motor Mech Show to life at Clairwood Secondary School in Durban on Saturday, 15 August, with approximately 1 200 people turning out for a day that combined automotive skills, careeropportunities, community engagement and family entertainment.
Held in collaboration with the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) and the KZN Classic Car Club, the event gave young aspiring technicians the opportunity to put their knowledge and practical skills to the test in the MIWA Junior MotorMech Competition, while connecting learners with businesses and training providers from across the automotive aftermarket.
The competition was won by Kyle Samlal, with Oneil Murugess taking second place and Ayush Rampersad taking third place respectively.
For MIWA KwaZulu-Natal Regional Representative Morne de Jager, the success of the event lies not only in the competition itself, but in the opportunities it creates for young people.
“Motor Mech is about opening doors. These learners are able to demonstrate what they know and what they can do in front of people from the industry, and that can lead to opportunities that they may otherwise never have had. We saw someexceptional talent at Clairwood, and we are particularly pleased that MIWA members were able to identify learners who could potentially join workshops and begin building careers in the automotive industry,” says de Jager.
The event also demonstrated the importance of bringing the automotive industry, schools and communities together.
“An event like this creates a connection between education and the workplace. Learners can see that there are real career opportunities available to them, while businesses can meet young people who have the potential to become the skilledtechnicians our industry needs. It is about giving young people exposure, building confidence and showing them that a career in the automotive aftermarket can offer a future,” he says.
A key highlight of the day was the technical assessment of the Motor Mech competitors by Diesel Electric Automotive Training Centre. MIWA Training Representative and owner of DE Training Cenrtre, Neren Hansraj, says the standard of thelearners demonstrated the value of exposing young people to practical skills at an early stage.
“At DE Automotive Training Centre, we were incredibly proud to be involved in the technical assessments for the Motor Mech Show 2026. It was inspiring to see the talent, dedication and practical skills demonstrated by the learners. Theirperformance is a strong reminder that the future of the automotive industry depends on developing young people with the right knowledge, practical abilities and work ethic,” says Hansraj.
DE Automotive Training Centre will further translate the competition into career opportunities, offering four learnership opportunities to learners who excelled during the event.
“We are especially proud to be able to offer four learnership opportunities to learners who excelled in the competition. This is our way of investing directly in the next generation of automotive professionals. Skills development is notsimply about achieving a qualification – it is about building confidence, creating opportunities and preparing young people for successful careers,” says Hansraj.
The Motor Mech Competition was just one of the attractions on the day. Visitors were able to enjoy the KZN Classic Car Display, the NTA Excellence Tow Truck Championship, automotive exhibitions, workshop and supplier displays, children'sentertainment, refreshments and other family activities.
The event also had a strong community focus, with funds raised for Clairwood Secondary School. The school welcomed the opportunity to host the event and expressed its appreciation to MIWA, RMI and the participating associations for bringingboth educational and entertainment opportunities to the school.
For MIWA, the community aspect is an important part of the Motor Mech Show's broader purpose.
“When we talk about skills development, we are also talking about communities. We want young people to see a future for themselves in this industry, while creating opportunities for schools, businesses and communities to benefit from workingtogether. The response from Clairwood and the wider community showed just how powerful that connection can be,” concludes de Jager.
MIWA would like to thank Clairwood Secondary School, NTA, the KZN Classic Car Club, DE Training Centre, its MIWA members, participating schools, learners, supporting suppliers and sponsors and all those who contributed to making the 2026Motor Mech Show a resounding success.