Four years of hard work pays off for Matlapelo

When Matlapelo Gabanakgosi was a little girl, she dreamed of becoming a zoologist, however she quickly learned that her passion was actually engineering.

On 5 June, Matlapelo qualified as a diesel mechanic after doing four years of practical training at Dieselpro in Boltonia. She is the first female diesel mechanic to qualify at this company.

She ended up at Dieselpro, where she did her practical and also where they offered to sponsor her while they trained her and she finished her studies.

She is trained to work on engines, gearboxes, differentials, brakes, cooling systems, fuel systems, steering systems, and suspensions.

She arrived at their doorstep dressed as a proper ‘lady’, but quickly learned that she had to get rid of her long nails and tie up her hair. But for her it was no problem and she said nowadays she enjoys getting her hands dirty and does not miss her long hair or nails at all.

Her hands are the smallest in the workshop so she can get into those tight spaces in the engines that the other mechanics can’t.

The day she qualified, the team ‘baptised’ her by dumping a whole bucket of oil over her head.

Derick Brits, the man who decided to take the chance on Matlapelo four years ago, said that it was a tough decision to allow her to train with them, but her passion and commitment convinced him to give her a chance. And today he regrets nothing, as she works on anything with an engine and is just as good if not better than her male counterparts.

Matlapelo dreams of one day achieving her degree in mechanical engineering and wants to make and design the cars she works on.

Her favourite vehicles to work on are bakkies.