Two young women of the staff of close to 100 working at one of Cape Town’s biggest and most influential used-car dealerships, say they now have a future that they would not have had without Wingfield Motors.
Based in Goodwood with branches in Kuilsriver, Bellville and Vredenburg in the Western Cape as well as Boksburg in Gauteng, CEO John van Niekerk says he supports his staff as far as possible.
“We have 94 people on our staff, excluding another 25 or so in the panel shop, and most of them have been with us for 10 years or longer.”
Two ladies who stand out, says Van Niekerk, have worked their way up in such a way that it surprised even him – one from a cleaner and tea maker to a telephone receptionist and the other one from receptionist to F&I Manager.
“We didn’t do much except support them by paying for their studies,” says the proud CEO.
Michelle Brand, who left school after matric at the age of 19, joined the Kuilsriver branch where she did everything from making tea to taking over reception duties.
“I did that for about three years and became interested in accounts and bookkeeping and started studying thanks to Wingfield. I then started working as an assistant to the F&I Manager (Finance and Insurance) and was eventually appointed F&I Manager here at the Goodwood head-office,” she says.
“I would not have been here in this position if it weren’t for their help. I always wanted to go study sports management but could not afford it and started working at Wingfield Kuilsriver to try and save for my studies.
“I completed my studies in this completely different direction in March 2020 and took a break because of the COVID-19 Lockdown, but they offered me a job as F&I Manager and look where I am now!”
Violet Direko has a similar success story. Originally from Bloemfontein, she came to Cape Town with her parents “many years ago” and started working at Wingfield on 1 October 2010.
“I started as a cleaner and was later offered the opportunity to further my studies at college, which Wingfield paid for. I got my qualification a few years ago and started working here as receptionist from November 2016. And I love it!
“I enjoy working with people, but I would still have been a cleaner if Wingfield didn’t give me the opportunity.”
Violet is now married and has two children. She lives in Delft, a 45-minute commute from work.
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You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.
Henry Ford
One of the topics that comes up often when I write articles is “waste” within a dealership. Quite often, expenses are cut when times are challenging but often, waste is confused with expenditure.
The story of Gabisile Fakude will surely be an inspiration for many who have an eye on the automotive industry as a career, especially for those who have not traditionally been associated with this world as a career path.
Suzuki Kenilworth in Cape Town claimed top honours for the second year running at the annual Suzuki Dealer Conference and Awards.
