Imbokodo Auto Care Centre

My name is Sipho Dlamini, and I am the founder of Imbokodo Auto Care Centre, a small vehicle maintenance and repair business serving drivers in Mbombela and surrounding communities. I started the business after spending more than a decade working as a motor mechanic and seeing how many ordinary vehicle owners struggled to find a workshop that was both affordable and dependable. Many customers who came to me privately were not looking for complicated repairs; they wanted someone who would explain the problem honestly, charge a fair price and finish the work when promised. I decided that there was an opportunity to build a workshop around those simple principles.

Imbokodo Auto Care Centre began in 2021 from a rented single-bay workshop. I had saved money for several years while working for established automotive repair businesses, and when I finally left employment I used most of my savings to purchase basic hand tools, a second-hand compressor, a hydraulic jack and a used diagnostic scanner. The workshop was small enough that I initially worked alone. My first customers were friends, former colleagues and people referred by neighbours. I repaired brakes, replaced worn suspension components, serviced engines and handled routine maintenance. I kept my prices competitive because I knew that many customers were delaying repairs simply because they were worried about the cost.

The first year was difficult. Some weeks were busy while others were extremely quiet. I learned that being a good mechanic was not enough to run a successful workshop. I had to learn stock management, customer communication, scheduling, bookkeeping and how to explain technical problems in language that people without mechanical experience could understand. I began keeping records of every vehicle that came through the workshop, including the work performed, parts used and recommended follow-up maintenance. Customers appreciated being able to return months later and have their previous service history available.

Today, Imbokodo serves individual motorists, small businesses with delivery vehicles, taxi operators and a handful of local tradespeople who depend on their vehicles for work. Our regular services include oil changes, brake repairs, suspension work, battery replacement, basic diagnostics, wheel-related services and general mechanical maintenance. We also inspect vehicles before long-distance trips and help customers identify problems that could become expensive if ignored. Most of our customers come through referrals, which has become one of the strongest indicators that the business is earning trust in the local community.

The workshop now operates with three mechanics, including myself, and one assistant who handles cleaning, parts organization and customer reception when the workshop is busy. We purchase common replacement parts from wholesalers in Mbombela and source specialized components when a particular vehicle requires them. I inspect every completed job before the vehicle is released. We do not try to replace every part simply because a customer has brought a vehicle in for service. If something is still usable, we explain that to the customer. I believe that this approach has helped us build relationships with people who know that we will not recommend unnecessary work simply to increase a bill.

Our biggest limitation is equipment. The workshop was built around the tools I could afford when I started, and those tools are no longer sufficient for the number and variety of vehicles we receive. We currently rely on basic jacks for several jobs that would be much faster and safer with a proper vehicle lift. Our diagnostic scanner is also an older model that cannot communicate effectively with some newer vehicles. This means that certain diagnostic work has to be referred to another workshop, causing customers to wait longer and costing us revenue.

Another challenge is that we sometimes lose customers because we cannot complete certain jobs quickly enough. A vehicle that could potentially be inspected and repaired on the same day may remain in the workshop while we wait for equipment or outside assistance. During busy periods, this creates a queue and limits the number of vehicles we can accept. Customers who rely on their vehicles for work cannot always afford to leave them with us for several days, even when they trust our mechanics.

Our financial position is stable but still limited. The business generates regular revenue, and I have reinvested most of what we earn into tools, rent, wages and replacement stock. I have avoided taking on a large loan because I did not want repayments to consume the cash flow needed to keep the workshop operating. However, our existing revenue is now sufficient to support a larger operation if we can remove the equipment bottleneck. The funding we are requesting is therefore intended to increase productive capacity and allow us to perform more of the work that customers are already asking us to do.

We are seeking R1,640,000 to purchase professional workshop equipment, upgrade our diagnostic capability and improve the working environment. This investment will allow us to reduce repair times, handle newer vehicles and take on more customers without sacrificing the quality of our work.

• R620,000 for a professional vehicle lift and installation: The lift will make under-vehicle inspections and repairs faster and safer while allowing our mechanics to work on more vehicles during the same operating day.

• R280,000 for advanced diagnostic equipment: We will purchase a modern diagnostic system capable of servicing a wider range of vehicle makes and models, reducing the number of jobs we currently have to refer elsewhere.

• R240,000 for workshop tools and mechanical equipment: This will cover professional power tools, brake-service equipment, suspension tools, workbenches and other equipment needed for routine repairs.

• R210,000 for compressor and tyre-service equipment: Improved air and tyre equipment will allow us to handle more wheel-related work in-house and reduce delays caused by sending customers to other providers.

• R170,000 for workshop improvements: Funds will be used for electrical upgrades, improved lighting, storage systems, safety equipment and better organization of the workshop floor.

• R120,000 for initial parts inventory: We will stock commonly used filters, brake components, belts, lubricants and other fast-moving items so that customers do not have to wait for basic parts to arrive.

Implementation will begin during the first month after funding. I will purchase the vehicle lift and arrange professional installation before moving other equipment into the workshop. At the same time, we will reorganize the workspace to create separate areas for inspection, mechanical work, parts storage and completed vehicles. Our staff will receive training on the new equipment, particularly the lift and diagnostic system, so that the investment is used safely and effectively.

During the second month, we will begin offering additional diagnostic and repair services that we currently refer to outside providers. I will contact previous customers and small business clients to let them know about the expanded capabilities. We will also approach local businesses with small vehicle fleets and offer scheduled maintenance arrangements, giving them a more predictable way to manage servicing costs.

By the third month, our objective is to increase the number of vehicles completed each week while reducing average turnaround time. We will monitor repair volumes, parts usage, customer satisfaction and repeat bookings. Within six months, I expect the workshop to be handling substantially more vehicles than it can today, with a larger proportion of repair work completed entirely in-house.

The expansion should create at least three additional jobs during the first year. Two positions will be for qualified or trainee mechanics, while another will support customer reception, stock management and administration. I also want to develop a practical training arrangement for young mechanics who have completed basic automotive training but need workplace experience. If the business continues growing, additional apprenticeships will become part of our long-term staffing plan.

The impact of the expansion will not only be measured by our revenue. Reliable vehicle maintenance is important for small businesses, families and workers who depend on transportation every day. A delivery driver who can get a vehicle repaired quickly can return to work sooner. A small contractor can avoid losing several days of income because of a preventable mechanical problem. Families can also have greater confidence that a vehicle inspection is being carried out properly rather than being pushed toward unnecessary repairs.

My long-term vision is to develop Imbokodo Auto Care Centre into a trusted independent automotive service business with a larger workshop, trained technicians and several specialized service areas. I eventually want to add fleet maintenance contracts, mobile roadside assistance and a parts retail section so that customers can access more of what they need from one business. I would also like to create a formal apprenticeship programme that gives young people in the area an opportunity to learn automotive skills while earning an income.

I have built this business gradually, one customer and one repair at a time. The equipment we have today represents years of saving and reinvestment, but I know that continuing to grow with the same basic tools will eventually prevent us from serving customers properly. This campaign gives us an opportunity to make a meaningful equipment investment without putting the entire business under the pressure of a large commercial loan.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Imbokodo Auto Care Centre and the work we are trying to build. Every contribution will help us purchase equipment, improve our workshop, create jobs and provide faster, more dependable vehicle services to people who rely on their cars and commercial vehicles every day. I am grateful to every supporter who chooses to contribute, share our campaign or simply encourage us. We started with one mechanic, a small workshop and a handful of customers. With the right support, I believe we can build a stronger workshop that provides honest service, creates skilled employment and becomes a business our community can continue to rely on for many years.