BLOEMFONTEIN – A young autobody repair apprentice from Bloemfontein, Mesuli Nande Gxalaba (21), has earned national recognition after winning the gold medal in the Autobody Repair category at the WorldSkills South Africa (WSZA) national competition. He scooped the prestigious medal during the competition that was held from 8 to 12 March at the Chief Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
Gxalaba’s mastery has earned him the right to represent South Africa at this year’s global WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai, China in September. He is honing his skill at Technicolour Autobody Repair in Bloemfontein, a South African Motor Body Repair (SAMBRA) accredited workshop.
The national leg of the competition also saw strong performances from Gxalaba’s fellow Free State competitors. Setlhare Onthatile Motlomelo (21), also from Technicolour, scooped silver while Sizwe Motaung (22) from B&H Panelbeaters secured the bronze medal, highlighting the strength of talent emerging from the region.
All three competitors are apprentices linked to the Motheo TVET College in Bloemfontein. The training programmes continue to produce highly skilled artisans.
Vuyane Ndamane, Autobody Repairs Facilitator at Motheo and coach to the competitors, said the results are a testament to the dedication and determination shown by the apprentices throughout the competition.
“I am extremely proud of the team. They demonstrated not only a high level of technical ability and passion for the trade, but also resilience, hard work and tenacity throughout the competition,” said Ndamane.
He emphasised the significance of this achievement in inspiring Gxalaba and preparing him for the international stage.
“The real work begins now as we prepare Gxalaba for the international competition, which is just five months away. Our focus is to secure the right level of specialised training and industry support to ensure he can compete at global standards,” said Ndamane.
He has played a key role in preparing the competitors for the national competition, working closely with industry partners such as Technicolour Autobody Repair, which supported the training process by providing access to the tools, equipment, and workplace exposure aligned with international autobody repair standards.
For Gxalaba, the victory reflects months of intensive preparation. “After winning the provincials we trained like crazy. We were hungry for that global podium,” he said.
WorldSkills South Africa forms part of the global WorldSkills International movement, which promotes vocational and technical excellence across more than 70 member countries and provides a platform for young artisans to benchmark their skills against international standards.
“For South Africa’s automotive sector, the success of competitors like Gxalaba highlights the depth of talent emerging through technical training and apprenticeships, reinforcing the importance of continued investment in artisan development and industry partnerships,” said Louis van Huyssteen, national training director at the RMI.
