Tooling the Local Economy: AIDC-EC Hands Over R2.5 million Worth of Tools Injection

In the heart of the Chris Hani District, where local grit fuels tomorrow’s aftermarket industry, the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, through its implementing agency, the Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC-EC), has brought a policy decision to life. On June 16th, during the 49th Youth Day Commemoration hosted in Cacadu (Lady Frere), two youth-led automotive businesses that benefited from the R2.5 million allocation were officially awarded tools of trade and machinery.

This moment goes beyond financial support - it marks a significant shift in economic development, to localised, inclusive, and deeply human-centered.

The six beneficiaries, all emerging entrepreneurs in the Eastern Cape’s Aftermarket Automotive Sector, represent the kind of grassroots innovation identified by the AIDC-EC as key to inclusive sector growth. Their recognition comes at a time when national conversations around unemployment, township, and rural economies demand not just lip service, but tangible investments and implementation of developmental commitments.

One of the six beneficiaries is Sabelo Sokazi, founder of Vetlis Auto Repairs in Whittlesea.

Sokazi received R242 395-00 in wheel repair and alignment equipment, including a lifting machine. In November 2024, the AIDC-EC traced Sokazi’s journey from informal repair work in his backyard to building a reputable enterprise specialising in advanced auto-electronics.

Sokazi expressed a mix of gratitude and reflection. “It is emotional. This reminds me of how far I have come. I started with just a toolbox that I received from my mentor. Now I have machinery that will enable me to do wheel alignment right here in Whittlesea - something that used to be a 40km journey for most car owners. This is a turning point not just for my business, but for the community I serve and the people I will be employing. It is not just me that is empowered; it is those I look forward to employing.”

Joining Sokazi as a recipient is Thobile Bakana, an owner of NSQ Investments, also in tyre and wheel alignment services, and previously operating from a container in central Cacadu. Bakana was awarded tools and equipment valued at R499 579-32, for a 3D wheel aligner, automatic tyre changers, a semi-automatic compressor, and a complete lift and balancing system - a setup equivalent to that of a commercial workshop in South Africa.

Bakana started his business to close a painful service gap - motorists in Cacadu having to travel outside their town for basic tyre and alignment services.

“This equipment means we can now provide services on the same level as national standards, from right here in Cacadu. It also creates opportunities for young people in my community to work in a high-performance environment that is fully compliant, competitive, and community focused.”

In his keynote address, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane affirmed that this initiative was not merely a pledge but a policy implementation:

“I am thrilled to share that five SMMEs from this district are already directly benefiting from the transformative programmes being implemented by the AIDC-EC. R2.6 million has been allocated for Aftermarket SMMEs to acquire tools and equipment. This is not a one-off event - it is the beginning of an economic shift.”

Photo by Andile April| Courtesy of Coega Development Corporation.

Adding that in his last State of the Province Address, he laid out a clear vision for the government's commitment to support the Aftermarket SMMEs.

This delivery model represents a people-first, systems-driven approach to inclusive economic transformation. These stories are not isolated - they are engineered case studies of how the provincial government, through strategic partnerships with implementing agencies, is actively cultivating sustainable local economies and accelerating localisation efforts.

These are not just two success stories - they are pillars of a new industrial frontier, proving that when vision meets implementation, local enterprises become provincial pride.

The AIDC-EC’s Aftermarket Support Programme is one of several levers being used to unlock real economic participation. Beyond funding, it includes technical assessments, occupational health and safety training, and continuous business development support. The Progamme enables a new breed of sector-ready SMMEs to be agile, skilled, and scalable.

The six beneficiaries are not the end of a journey, but the starting point of something larger. Where tools meet vision, and dreams find their machinery, transformation happens.

The AIDC-EC remains unrelenting in its commitment to building a globally competitive automotive sector and a locally grounded automotive ecosystem.