JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — As South Africa grapples with staggering youth unemployment, the local automotive aftermarket is simultaneously fighting a severe artisan skills shortage. Enter Project Dineo, a transformative apprenticeship program spearheaded by the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) designed to bridge this gap by turning jobless youth into highly qualified mechanics, panel beaters, and diesel technicians.
By uniting government entities, training institutions, and private employers, the initiative aims to secure the future of the local motor industry while driving vital demographic transformation.
The Brain Drain and the Apprenticeship Dropout Crisis
The RMI, an employers’ organization representing businesses in the automotive aftermarket, identified a critical paradox: thousands of young people lack job opportunities, yet the industry cannot find enough qualified artisans.
Nonhlanhla Tshabalala, Transformation and HR Director at the RMI, explains that the shortage is worsened by a significant “brain drain.” Once local artisans—such as fit and turners or diesel mechanics—gain their qualifications, they are frequently poached by international markets offering superior pay, including mining operations in Angola, offshore drilling rigs, and opportunities in Dubai. Furthermore, the influx of foreign vehicle manufacturers into the country often results in imported engineering talent, sidelining local job seekers.
Domestically, the pipeline is also leaking. Many young people begin apprenticeships but drop out, or they finish their training without a clear pathway to enter the job market. Project Dineo was engineered to fix this broken pipeline by ensuring that once youth are trained, they are seamlessly absorbed into the local workforce.
A Serendipitous Namesake
The initiative’s name carries a unique personal significance for the RMI team. Dineo Mosia, an HR Administrator at the RMI, revealed that the program was serendipitously named after her.
Having been a learner herself in a similar journey, Mosia noted that it was an incredible honor to have the project bear her name. Her personal background as a former student made her the perfect figurehead to motivate and guide current learners through the transition from the classroom to the workplace.
Inside the Fully Funded Three-Year Framework
Project Dineo operates as a comprehensive, three-year apprenticeship. The curriculum is strategically divided: learners spend six months studying theory in a classroom, followed by six months of hands-on practical experience at a host employer. This cycle repeats, ensuring a deep integration of academic knowledge and real-world application.
Participants can specialize in several vital artisan streams, including:
- Motor mechanics
- Diesel mechanics
- Panel beating
- Spray painting
Learners are registered with the Motor Industry Bargaining Council as apprentices for the duration of the three-year term. Upon completion, host employers have the first option to hire them permanently, or the RMI can help place them with other businesses in the sector.
Crucially, the program removes all financial barriers. It is 100% fully funded, meaning learners pay zero tuition fees and are provided with a monthly stipend.
To qualify, candidates must possess a genuine passion for the automotive aftermarket. While a minimum of a Grade 10 education is acceptable, the RMI strongly prefers students with a Matric (Grade 12) certificate. Mathematics is a non-negotiable requirement, and Physical Sciences are highly recommended. The program specifically targets students from technical high schools, a demographic that Tshabalala notes is often under-resourced and neglected.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling: 50% Female Cohort
Historically a male-dominated sector, the automotive industry is seeing a shift thanks to Project Dineo. The program’s initial intake of 300 learners boasts an impressive 50% female representation.
To achieve this, the RMI actively hosts motor competitions specifically designed for girls, challenging them to fix cars and showcase their technical abilities. The female participants from these recent competitions are already enrolled and completing their practical training with employers in the Western Cape.
Furthermore, the RMI is ensuring the program is not limited to major urban hubs. By leveraging its national office network, the initiative has recruited learners from rural and historically overlooked regions, including the Eastern Cape and the Free State. The organization is even exploring housing solutions to support these students.
From MotoMac to Guaranteed Market Absorption
The genesis of Project Dineo stems from the Motor Industry Workshops Association’s (MIA) “MotoMac” show, a long-running technical skills competition for high schools. Organizers realized that while the competition successfully identified talented youth, there was no structured pathway for the winners to transition into the actual workforce. Project Dineo was created to solve this exact “where to next?” problem.
The initiative’s success is underpinned by a robust coalition of strategic partners:
- merSETA: The Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority provides essential funding for the mechanical engineering components of the project.
- TVET Colleges and Training Centers: Technical instruction is delivered through partnerships with the College of Cape Town, PE College, and UXI (African Skills in the Eastern Cape).
- Harambe: This youth unemployment agency assists the RMI in mapping out potential candidates across various regions. If the 300-learner target is not met, Harambe helps source additional youth. More importantly, Harambe leverages its extensive network of employers to facilitate job absorption for graduates.
Because the RMI is an employers’ organization, Project Dineo holds a distinct advantage over standard educational programs. By directly engaging its member businesses from day one, the RMI ensures that the ultimate goal is not just a certificate, but guaranteed, sustainable employment for South Africa’s next generation of automotive artisans.