Case Study: From Backyard to Brilliance and Restoring Hope - One Vehicle at a Time

From backyard tinkering to entrepreneurial dreams, meet Vetlis Auto Repairs, a youth-owned aftermarket business pioneering a new era by bringing new solutions. Founded in 2022 by a passionate young entrepreneur, Sabelo Sokazi who is situated in Whittlesea in the Chris Hani District Municipality, the story of this startup is rooted in a lifelong fascination with cars.

As a child, Sabelo watched in awe as his father, a taxi owner, brought home a diverse fleet of vehicles. This exposure sparked an unrelenting passion for cars that only intensified with age. Under the guidance of a community mentor, who honed his mechanical skills, transforming curiosity into expertise. Today, Vetlis Auto Repairs offers a comprehensive range of services – diagnostics, motor repairs, panel beating, welding, battery charging, and engine repairs – solidifying its reputation as a key player in the aftermarket ecosystem.

A pivotal moment arrived when the mentor presented Sokazi with his very first toolbox. Empowered, Sokazi began servicing cars independently, taking on his first project: a minibus taxi. The outcome was astonishing – he earned R350, a sum that left him beaming with pride. The realisation hit: his hands could produce income.

This epiphany sparked an entrepreneurial fire. He knew he had to establish himself as a reputable businessman. However, he understood that his growth in the aftermarket depended on accessing a larger market. Seeking expansion, Sokazi relocated from Gauteng to the Eastern Cape province, where an influx of cars promised endless opportunities. Setting up shop in the backyard of his home, he focused on what would set him apart: servicing new-generation cars with advanced electronics.

This bold move positioned Vetlis Auto Repairs as a go-to person/guy for complex repairs. Sokazi's expertise and attention to detail attracted clients seeking precision and reliability. With a strong foundation in place, Sokazi envisions Vetlis Auto Repairs as a leading aftermarket business, renowned for its expertise in advanced electronics and commitment to exceptional service.

‘’When it comes to electronics you can never say you have got all the equipment because injectors need coding, sound pumps need coding. I always need different sets of tools to perform different tasks in different cars. They may operate in similar fashion but it’s a distinct ball game when it comes to electronics’’, says Sokazi.

When dealt with difficult clients who come bearing demands that a vehicle must be fixed on unrealistic turnaround times, he has learnt to lead with humility. This helps him balance quality and impeccable service because it can be a make-or break situation.

‘’When you love something deeply as I love cars, your brand or simply living your dream, it stops feeling like work. I now understand that the way I respond, the client will go out there and speak about the business to other prospective clients’’

Sokazi has mastered the power of effective communication in business because it is paramount. He understands that in the word-of-mouth-driven marketplace, a single unhappy client can have far-reaching consequences. Nonchalance, defensiveness, and impatience are luxuries no business can afford. Unaddressed concerns can escalate, damaging reputation and driving customers away.

To mitigate this risk, Sokazi employs a proactive communication strategy, particularly when clients demand quick results.

“I always tell my clients from the beginning that there are mistakes involved because I am human first before a technician. To prevent such, I need time. I tell them straight away this is going to be a 3-day job because I need a whole day to do a thorough assessment on the vehicle first before I begin with actual work.’’

Seeing a vehicle that needs work, equipment, and clients hooting at him in town after servicing their cars are things that set his soul on fire, a feeling he cannot shake off.

The ambition extends far beyond his current backyard setup. He identifies a major hindrance to his business growth as the lack of a proper workshop. His vision is clear, to establish a fully equipped facility where he can:

-        Rebuild and repair vehicles in poor condition into top quality cars

-        Restore vintage cars to their former glory

-        Breathe new life into vehicles that owners have lost hope on.

"Working from home limits my potential," Sokazi confesses. "As an auto electrician, I know I can do so much more. A dedicated workshop would unlock my capabilities, allowing me to take on complex projects and deliver exceptional results."

The ward councillor in that region often services his cars at Vetlis Auto Repairs. It is during their regular sessions that Sokazi got to hear about the Aftermarket Support Programme that is catapulted by the Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC-EC).

The AIDC-EC supports SMMEs as they are a critical component of any economy, they contribute significantly towards growth and development. This agency believes they are an engine of the automotive sector in the Easten Cape. They create jobs, and further create opportunities for other businesses in the value chain, thus, contribute to the livelihood of surrounding communities.

Through the GAP Analysis process aimed at verifying SMMEs registered to be part of the programme, the following challenges were further identified as hindrances to growth.  

-        Lack of information on automotive support programs

-        Poor branding

-        Technological disruptions

-        Compliance to industry standards.

To address the above challenges and other business imperatives, the AIDC-EC further provides Occupational Health and Safety Assessments (OHS) as one of the interventions that will ensure that businesses operate on safety standards required by the automotive sector as well as sector regulatory bodies.

This is the 5th analysis following the successful Automotive Aftermarket Franchise Development Expo & B2B Indaba that was hosted in East London in October where some of the above challenges were voiced by participants.

AIDC-EC’s commitment to support SMMEs is unrelenting and seeks to establish a robust aftermarket service offering, including curating proposals to build Automotive Hubs that can accommodate multiple businesses operating, and enable the Eastern Cape Automotive Sector become Globally Competitive.