The Motor Industry Workshop Association’s Motor Mech competition will make its first appearance in the Free State on 1 May, hosted at Martie Du Plessis School as part of the long-established Cars in the Park event organised by the OFS Veteran Car Club.
This marks a notable expansion for a programme that has become a national platform for developing young technical talent.
For years the competition has been instrumental in nurturing hands-on mechanical skills among school learners by placing them in authentic workshop scenarios where practical ability matters as much as theoretical knowledge. Dewald Ranft, MIWA National Chairperson, notes that the Free State debut will open opportunities for a new group of learners to gain exposure to industry standards and potential career paths.
Educators have welcomed the event’s arrival in the province. Jan Claassen, Deputy Principal for Skills at Dr Böhmer School of Skills, highlights its importance for learners from LSEN schools, noting that it validates skill-based learning and provides the automotive sector with insight into the capabilities of these learners.
Two Bloemfontein technical schools, Dr Böhmer Technical High School and Louis Botha Technical High School, have already confirmed participation, with MIWA regional representative Jonathan Stanfley encouraging additional schools to join the first Free State edition.
