There was plenty of talent, concentration and healthy competition at Bergsig Special School on 27 August in the Eastern Cape.

Learners were given the opportunity to step into the world of automotive refinishing through a spray-paintingtraining session and skills competition hosted by Apex Auto Paint in partnership with the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association Eastern Cape, a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI).

The initiative gave learners a hands-on introduction to the spray-painting trade, from surface preparation and paint application to equipment handling and achieving a professional finish.

But this was about more than learning how to spray paint.

For Abie Kriek, Regional Representative for SAMBRA in the Eastern Cape, initiatives like this are about giving young people an opportunity to discover where practical skills could take them.

“You can tell someone about a career in the motor body repair industry, but giving them the opportunity to experience it for themselves is very different. Days like this allow learners to get their hands dirty, learn from people workingin the industry and see that there are real career opportunities available to them.”

The highlight of the day was the skills competition, which challenged learners to repair a dent over the fender arch line before preparing and refinishing the damaged area.

The task required patience, precision and attention to detail, with participants judged on everything from the quality of the repair and preparation to their spray-painting technique and final finish.

And the results showed just how much potential was in the room:

First place went to Gavin Armoed, followed by Curtly Uithaler in second place, Emile Ansel in third place and Jaywin Joseph in fourth.

“Congratulations to all four finalists for taking on the challenge and putting their developing skills to the test, with a special congratulations to Gavin on taking first place,” says Kriek.

For Leon Welgemoed, Technical Deputy Principal at Bergsig Special School, the value of the initiative extended well beyond the competition itself.

“Our learners were given an opportunity to showcase their abilities, build confidence and experience a genuine industry environment. Most importantly, they were shown that their practical skills have real value and that there is a placefor them in the world of work,” he says.

Welgemoed says the practical training provided by Apex Auto Paint was particularly valuable, giving learners exposure to industry-related products, techniques and working practices that cannot easily be replicated in a classroom or schoolworkshop.

For SAMBRA, creating opportunities for young people to engage directly with the motor body repair industry is an important part of building the skills pipeline the sector will need in the years ahead.

SAMBRA particularly thanks Apex Auto Paint for sharing its expertise and investing in the learners, as well as Despatch Bodyworks, Dentrite, Ray Giese’s Bodyshop, MISA and Apex Auto Paint for sponsoring the prizes presented at the MotorMech Show on 29 August.

“When industry and education work together, young people get more than technical exposure – they get the chance to build confidence, discover their potential and see a future for themselves in the industry. Recognition of their abilitiesreinforces an important message: their skills matter, and there are opportunities for them in the world of work,” concludes Kriek.