Kouga Local Municipality fleet’s “bush mechanic” retires

JEFFREYS BAY – He jokingly calls himself a “bush mechanic” because he never trained as one – yet under the guidance of Kouga Local Municipality Fleet Manager Nico Gouws, 65-year-old Mpumelelo Mkani mastered the craft and became an integral part of the municipal workshop team.

Now recently retired, Mkani says it is his colleagues he will miss the most.

“I loved working with them. We became like family. And Nico Gouws is a good guy,” he said warmly.

Born in Gqeberha, Mkani grew up in New Brighton before his family moved to Site & Service in KwaZakhele in 1968. He spent his high school years in King William’s Town, where he learned to herd cattle – an unforgettable experience that shaped his work ethic.

As a young adult, he worked at a gold mine in Westonaria before returning to Gqeberha to take up employment in the timber industry. When the company closed and he found himself without work, a friend who was a mechanic offered him a job.

“My friend gave me a job cleaning car parts. Over time, I started fixing cars. That is why I call myself a bush mechanic – I do not have the papers to be one,” he laughed.

Mkani joined the municipality in 1997, initially cleaning public toilets. Later, equipped with a PDP (public driving permit), he moved to Community and Safety Services as a driver.

“I drove all the trucks. Sometimes I even acted as an instructor, teaching others how to drive. And when the trucks broke down, I fixed them,” he recalled.

In 2020, determined to grow further, he transferred to the Fleet Department workshop.

“I wanted more for myself. I told Gouws in my interview that I was a bush mechanic. He laughed and asked what that meant. On my first day, I was tasked with removing a gearbox from a bakkie. The next day, Gouws told me nobody would take me away from Fleet,” he said proudly.

The father of three, who lives in Ocean View, plans to stay active in retirement. In addition to selling empty bottles, he will continue pursuing his passion for cars.

“I buy, fix, and sell cars. It is important to do what you love. I enjoy it and will keep going for as long as I can.”