A story of a dream come true for Robert Maposa (43), a gardener at one stage and now an LLB-graduate receiving his first car.
Hard work, passion and perseverance paid off for Robert this month when he realised another one of his dreams: owning his own car.
It all happened with the help of multiple generous supporters, who raised more than R80 000 for his first car through a crowdfunding campaign, and the support of Kia’s Certified Pre-Owned Program, Kia Konfidence.
Robert is now the proud owner of a low mileage, fully tested, fully guaranteed Kia Rio 1.2 LS that will allow him to pursue his dream job.
He has tended the garden of the same Pretoria family for the last 15 years, but the Mamelodi-resident had much bigger dreams: a better life for his supportive wife, Hitahlula, and their two children, Wonderful and Timothy.
Robert’s first goal? Getting his matric, which he did at age 28. Then followed an LLB degree through UNISA, funded through various odd jobs, before graduating with distinction. The next step: finding a job in the field of law that he always dreamed about.
Personal mobility posed a big challenge for Robert, as he would need a car to deliver and collect documents from the courts and clients. That is where Jonathan Smith came in. The son of the family that Robert works for. Jonathan was so inspired by his story that he decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign to get Robert behind the wheel of his own vehicle.
Soon their BackaBuddy campaign gained momentum, and to date they have raised more than R80 000. Following an appeal from the family matriarch, Ina Smith, Kia was so inspired by Robert’s story that the brand decided to match the funds raised by the BackaBuddy campaign and source a vehicle for Robert through the Kia Konfidence Program.
“Robert’s story of passion and perseverance is closely aligned with Kia’s belief that movement inspires ideas, and his incredible achievements are a huge inspiration to us,” says Gareth van der Westhuizen, General Manager of Kia Konfidence.
Says Robert: “Kia is one of my favourite brands. This Rio will allow me to excel when I get a job and to create more opportunities for my family. Thank you!”
MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA), welcomes Chery’s investment in South Africa with the acquisition of Nissan’s historic production plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, which will offer employment to the majority of Nissan’s affected employees.
Nissan has revealed key details of the all new Nissan Tekton, a compact SUV that will form the centrepiece of the brand’s upcoming product rollout and is expected to arrive in South Africa during 2026.
Range anxiety, a “chronic illness” most electric vehicle drivers experience, has been turned on its head by Volvo with its latest EX60 range.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
Hyundai Automotive South Africa has officially opened its Hyundai Sandton City dealership at 183 Rivonia Road in Sandton, Africa’s most influential business district.
In an era when a vehicle purchase can be completed entirely online, from selecting trim levels to signing contracts digitally, the vast majority of South Africans continue to favour physical showrooms over virtual platforms.
“I am an electric vehicle convert, and it took me two years to secure the franchise rights of the EV brand I most admire and have been driving for some time, BYD,” says Marius du Toit, Managing Director of the 4Wheels Motor Group, which has several other dealerships of different brands in its portfolio.
