Mount Fletcher's 'Mother of Broken Cars' Graduates as Certified Motor Mechanic at KSD TVET
- Nosipho Kholutsoane, known as the 'Mother of Broken Cars', graduated as a certified motor mechanic from KSD TVET College in Mthatha on 17 July 2026
- She was one of only two women among 70 graduating artisans in a programme designed to formally accredit self-taught technicians
- Her Eastern Cape business, Lereku Trading, previously caught the attention of German broadcaster Deutsche Welle for its classic car restoration work
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Facebook
Nosipho Kholutsoane, the Eastern Cape entrepreneur affectionately nicknamed the "Mother of Broken Cars" by her Mount Fletcher community, has achieved a milestone that formalises years of hard-earned expertise. She graduated as a certified motor mechanic from King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College in Mthatha on 17 July 2026.
According to the report, Kholutsoane qualified through the Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) Programme, a pathway created to give formal accreditation to skilled technicians who built their knowledge outside traditional classrooms. She was one of only two women in a cohort of 70 graduating artisans, a fact that underscores just how rare her presence is in South Africa's male-dominated automotive aftermarket industry.
Lereku Trading's unique restoration niche
Through her business, Lereku Trading, Kholutsoane specialises in panel beating, auto body repair, custom builds, spray painting, and the restoration of vintage vehicles. Her restored classic cars have become a sought-after feature at weddings, matric dances, and public exhibitions across the region. The quality of her craft drew enough international attention that German broadcaster Deutsche Welle featured her story.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Her journey was not without friction. Early on, community members were sceptical about a woman running an automotive workshop, and access to specialised machinery was a persistent challenge. In 2023, she applied to the Automotive Aftermarket Support Programme, a decision that proved to be a turning point.
R474,000 grant helps scale her workshop
In 2025, the Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape awarded Lereku Trading R474,747.30 in tools, machinery, and workshop equipment. The grant, facilitated through a partnership between the EC Office of the Premier, AIDC-EC, and KSD TVET College, gave her the infrastructure to grow her operations.
For Kholutsoane, the formal qualification is more than a certificate. She has spoken about how it validates the practical knowledge she accumulated over many years and strengthens her credibility when pursuing larger commercial contracts, opportunities that were harder to access without recognised credentials.
Her story is a reminder that in South Africa's townships and rural towns, world-class skill often exists long before formal recognition catches up with it.
See the full post below:
More on SA graduates and women making an impact
- Briefly News recently reported on the Phakama Women’s Academy welcoming 22 new mentees in Johannesburg as the programme continues helping young women prepare for the workplace.
- A group of South African medical graduates returned home from China to an emotional airport welcome filled with flowers, balloons and celebrations.
- CPUT students sparked mixed reactions after dancing and playing games as a 24-hour deadline to leave their residences approached.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
