Reneilwe Masoga: A journey from receptionist to mechanic, proving passion knows no gender

Reneilwe Masoga, 20 first started working at MEC Autoworks in Rivonia, Sandton, as a receptionist, but her boss, Nico Lagidze, saw potential in her and upskilled her into a junior mechanic.

She was left feeling very motivated when her boss saw something in her, and she started to prove to him that she could do better.

The gradual process saw her falling in love with cars, learning how to diagnose problems, working on electrical issues inside the cars and fixing them soon became second nature. 

“My colleagues helped me to learn how to fix cars, and I was so patient with cars, that it became simpler for me to learn how to fix cars,” she told IOL in an interview.

Reneilwe was taught all that she knows at the workshop, but is now also going through formal education. Being a woman and doing what may be perceived as a man’s job does leave people surprised, but Reneilwe lets her work speak for itself.

“I prove myself with my work, yes, it might be difficult, but mostly I'm passionate about cars, and I can overcome any kind of difficulties.”

Being able to provide for her family and also inspire other women to enter male-dominated fields is a dream come true for Reneilwe.

Working with cars means getting dirty, but that’s not something Reneilwe is afraid of, as “pretty hands won't get your bills paid.”

“My appearance doesn't have to define what I'm passionate about. I need to pursue whatever I want to pursue without thinking that I can look like this and like that.”

Reneilwe believes that she needs to hustle hard and do what she needs to do to make dreams come true, and not give up and let her hands prove her work.

Lerato Masoga,  works with Reneilwe at MEC Autoworks, and what began as her just looking for a job turned into her becoming a mechanic. Lerato encourages women not to be discouraged when it comes to trying something new.

“They should not give up and not listen to what other people say about them. They should just dream on.” Lerato hopes to one day open her workshop and employ more women.

Their boss Lagidze explained that he started the program to uplift the women in his business in 2023 to see how they would perform and they surprisingly did well. He gives them practical hands-on training, allowing them to learn on the job. “They are very dedicated to what they do.”

IOL