Township mechanics in South Africa join together to turbocharge their small businesses

印刷用画面を開く

Posted

Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. township / ˈtaʊn ʃɪp / (n.) – a small town or part of a town, usually with its own local government
    Example:

    Mary grew up in a quiet township near the mountains.


  2. cooperative / koʊˈɒp ər ə tɪv / (n.) – a group of people or businesses that work together, share the benefits, and are usually managed by the members themselves
    Example:

    The local farmers formed a cooperative so they could sell their products together and earn more money.


  3. queue / kyu / (v.) – to stand and wait in line with other people
    Example:

    People were queuing outside the store early in the morning to get the new phone.


  4. initiative / ɪˈnɪʃ ə tɪv / (n.) – a new plan, project, or activity that is started to solve a problem or help people
    Example:

    The company launched a new initiative to reduce plastic use and protect the environment.


  5. safety net / ˈseɪf ti nɛt / (n.) – something that helps people or protects them from problems or danger, especially when they have trouble with money, health, or work
    Example:

    Government help during the pandemic was a safety net for families who lost their jobs.


Article

Read the text below.

Independent car mechanics in South Africa’s townships have long faced challenges accessing spare parts due to the buying power of large urban car repair chains.


But now, a cooperative is bringing township mechanics together to give them a fairer slice of the pie, providing speedy access to quality parts, as well as business support and development.


The Motor Spares Collective allows them to have combined purchasing power and place orders online. That avoids what some mechanics say is their biggest challenge: spending hours away from their garages queuing for parts.


The online orders are placed with a spares shop through WhatsApp, with authentic parts delivered within 24 hours.


Sharief Bartus, a mechanic in the township of Brakpan, is a board member of the Motor Spares Collective.


“Time is a big thing for a local mechanic. We lose time for 3-4 hours at a spares shop, where the cars could have been worked on. So if we can bring the spares to you, you can be productive,” he says.


The Motor Spares Collective—which launched at the end of last year—is an initiative designed to unlock the potential of small township businesses in South Africa in the hopes of driving growth and creating jobs in areas where unemployment and poverty are high.


For a $10 monthly membership fee for the first year, members of the Motor Spares Collective get more than just access to car parts and tools for their garages. The collective also offers skills development opportunities, help with business registration and financing.


The collective is also looking to offer life insurance packages and other social safety net services for its mechanics.


“In our communities, if somebody is skilled with their hands, which is what a mechanic is, when they pass away, you find that then the family moves into poverty. There’s no life cover. Why? Because life cover wants a… they want a pay slip from you,” says Amanda Gcabashe, a managing director of UBU Investment Holdings that helped set up the cooperative.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • One mechanic said he used to lose many hours waiting for parts, but now he can use that time to work on cars. Why do you think time is especially valuable for people who work alone or in small teams? What are the risks when business owners waste too much time on small tasks? What tools or habits do you think can help people save time and be more productive? Discuss.
  • What are some everyday tasks that take up a lot of people’s time, and how could technology help save that time? What task do you wish could be done faster with the help of technology? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The Motor Spares Collective is also looking to offer life insurance packages and other social safety net services for its mechanics. Why is it important for people, especially self-employed workers, to have a “safety net” like life insurance (ex. accidental death, retirement needs)? What kinds of support or protection should every worker have, even if they don’t work for a company (ex. health insurance, unemployment benefits)? Discuss.
  • One person said families can fall into poverty if a skilled worker dies without life insurance. What do you think makes it hard for some people to apply for insurance (ex. it’s expensive, they prioritize urgent needs)? What kinds of urgent needs do you think might feel more important than getting insurance? When people have limited income, how do you think they should decide what to spend on first? Discuss.