#WomensMonth: Pinetown mechanic likes to kick it into top gear
After helping her brother-in-law who is a mechanic, Monique Petzer realised that she loved working in the workshop and now owns her own vehicle repair business.
PINETOWN mechanic, Monique Petzer, is passionate about empowering women and on her birthday, 9 August which also marked Women’s Day, she hosted workshops for women to learn more and not be so ‘clueless’ when it comes to their vehicles.
Working in a male dominated industry, Monique said one of her biggest challenges is proving she can do a good or better job than other mechanics.
After completing her Matric, Monique could not decide what career she wanted to pursue so found workin the office where her brother-in-law, Piet Delport, a mechanic, worked.
Monique soon discovered that she enjoyed spending time in the workshop where her brother-in-law taught her about car engines.
After many months of happy work, destroying her good clothes with oil and grease, Monique was informed that a decision had been made, and she was offered an apprenticeship.
She was delighted and went on to learn as much as she could.
After three years, Piet said she was ready to take the trade test.
ALSO READ: #WomensMonth: Women learn to fight back
However, there was a problem. A mechanic apprenticeship is five years. It was agreed at Olifansfontein where the test was done, that if Monique failed just one module, she would not be able to apply to do her trade test before the five years were up.
Monique was one of 10 people doing their trade test. As the days went by, one by one other applicants failed a module and had to leave.
Eventually it was just Monique and one other male candidate. They both passed but Monique did it with panache, achieving a 98 per cent pass.
She opened her own vehicle repair business called, We Care Auto Repair.
The determined Monique said she had to work harder than most men have had to to prove herself in this traditionally masculine field.
“I also had to adapt to lifting and carrying items such as the big wheels and gearboxes that are very heavy as I don’t have the natural muscular strength that most men do.”
She said she chose to do this workshop for women because it fell on Women’s Day and she is happy and proud to be a woman.
“Also, I believe that women should know the basics of how their vehicles run and not rely on men to do simple things for them. We, as women, should be fully independent and know how to do basic mechanical repairsthings not be taken for a ride at vehicle repair places,” said Monique.
