Car mechanics have long been male, but one Durban woman is starring in the trade.
Thubelihle Khumalo, 29, is a mechanic at BMW Ballito, having served her two-year internship with the high-end brand.
Khumalo is the first woman mechanic in her family and when she began her career at the age of 24, her family was not pleased.
“When I first started working, everyone was a little worried because they did not understand what I was going to be doing. They had endless questions about how I would cope in a male-dominated environment or how I would manage the laborious work.
“It was only when I got my internship at BMW that they realised I was not going back on my career choice and I was serious about being a mechanic. I am not scared of hard work, so being a mechanic never scared me.”
The Groutville resident is formerly from Ulundi, where she and her family lived on a farm ‒ and where her uncle inspired her love for mechanics.
“My uncle always enjoyed farming, and he owns his own tractors. He used to fix the tractors and other cars on the farm while I was younger which is how my interest began.”
She would drive tractors and when one broke down, she would be tasked with fixing it.
“My uncle would make me look for the issue and leave me to try and fix it, he really fuelled my interest in cars. He believed I could fix the problem and that helped me grow into the person I am today.
“I was inspired by him because most of the time you wouldn’t find him stuck or trapped in the middle of nowhere because the vehicle broke down or because of a minor issue: he was always able to fix it and move on.”
Now she has been in the trade for five years and is grateful for all the experience her uncle exposed her to.
“Being a mechanic is not difficult. It is at times challenging but that is because the motor industry as a whole is hard. I am a motor technician, I specialise in doing diagnosis, car services and repairs.”
Khumalo said she still had to constantly prove herself in the male-dominated workshop, even though she had her colleagues’ support.
“I work hard to prove to them that I, as a woman, am as capable as the rest of them. At the same time, I like to keep my feminine side as well.
“Fortunately, I do not work in a toxic male environment, so I haven’t experienced a situation where I have been talked down to. My team is very supportive, they help with practice and information that I may lack.”
She still finds new things to learn.
“I enjoy my job and I’m always improving my skills. I hope to one day be part of the BMW SA Group Tech and become their i-technician member.”
She said she would not let her gender control her job as a mechanic and advises other women who may be deterred by perceptions about women doing men’s work.
“It is not about your gender, but more about your dreams and goals. Don’t be scared of facing difficulties, you will reach your destination even if it takes a while.
“Look at me, I am the only woman who is working in the workshop in this dealership. Hard work pays off,” said Khumalo.
