Driving Change: How TACSA Is Bridging South Africa’s Youth Skills Gap and Transforming Township Workshops
Posted by Floyd Baloyi (Community Manager) on 11 June 2025, 13:40 SAST

South Africa’s automotive industry is one of the most advanced in Africa—yet its benefits have not fully reached township and rural communities. The Transformative Automotive Cluster South Africa (TACSA) is changing that. This initiative is redefining the future of informal mechanics, bridging the youth skills gap, and laying the foundation for a sustainable, inclusive automotive ecosystem.
Youth Skills Development at the Core
With youth unemployment hovering above 40%, TACSA has placed young people at the centre of its mission. The initiative partners with TVET colleges, SETAs, and local training providers to:
- Train unemployed youth as certified service technicians
- Introduce diagnostic and repair skills relevant to modern vehicles
- Provide pathways into formal automotive value chains
- Foster youth entrepreneurship through mentorship and workshop incubation
By modernising the learning pipeline, TACSA is helping youth build careers, not just jobs.
Workshop Modernisation & Digital Access
The use of digital platforms like HaynesPro allows workshops to access:
- Real-time repair instructions and diagnostic protocols
- OEM service schedules and part specifications
- EV fault detection and hybrid servicing support
This leap into digital diagnostics helps build trust with customers and raises service quality to industry standards—even in the heart of the township.
Building Township Micro-Economies
Through public-private partnerships, TACSA drives local growth by:
- Sourcing parts locally through accredited distributors
- Encouraging workshop cooperatives and shared resource hubs
- Increasing vehicle owner trust in township-based services
- Channeling government and donor support into viable community-owned enterprises
The result? A thriving local economy with jobs, spending power, and mobility.
The Road Ahead: Scaling the GATE Model
TACSA’s expansion blueprint is the Gauteng Automotive Township Economy (GATE) model—a scalable framework designed to replicate success across other provinces.
Planned developments include:
- Additional township workshop clusters
- EV charging hubs and training sites
- Youth recruitment drives in high-unemployment regions
- Collaboration with OEMs and government bodies for funding, tools, and certification pathways
Conclusion: A New Era for Automotive Inclusion
TACSA is not just an initiative—it is a movement. It champions the power of township innovation, youth potential, and industry-wide transformation. By merging digital diagnostics, vocational training, and local entrepreneurship, TACSA is creating a roadmap for inclusive mobility and economic equity in South Africa.