Take this opportunity to get to know the exco members of the KZN region.
Yugan Munsamy
Yugan’s 25-year career in the motor industry started off at the BMW Trainee Academy in 1996. He qualified as a motor mechanic three years later, and continued his trajectory at BMW, working in several positions, before being headhunted by General Motors South Africa. Yugan honed his management skill in several key positions while also furthering his studies with a qualification in sales and marketing from Wits. He switched focus in 2013 when he moved to KZN to head up Durban’s Rex Diff and Gearbox franchise, which he purchased in 2020. Yugan also established Premier Auto Services e-CAR, which has played a role in developing skills within the industry through training. His goal now is to grow the business, so that it is recognised as a leader in customer service and quality, and to grow and develop his team to believe in themselves and their brands.
Premlall Salik
Affectionately known as Babu, Premlall has spent 42 of his 60 years in the industry, joining as an assistant to his brother at Auto Electrical when he was just 18. Babu’s focus on furthering his education and developing his knowledge saw him become an expert in the field, and while he has undertaken plenty of electrical and mechanical work for both corporate customers and car dealerships, he is also knowledgeable about earth-moving machinery and heavy-weight equipment. Career highlights include becoming a co-director/owner at B&R Auto Electrical CC (the first Bosch service centre in Durban), which later joined the national e-CAR network.
Babu’s career has been driven by the motto: It’s not about the price. It’s about the quality workmanship.
Ravi Komal
Now serving his fourth term as a member of MIWA’s exco, Ravi joined the industry in 1983. His career has included stints at Mercedes, Volkswagen, and Ford Madas.
Dhaya Naidoo
Dhaya qualified as a motor mechanic in 1983. After working at Toyota SA for six years, he took up a post at Munich Motors. He “took a bold leap”, opening his own motor repair shop, BM Auto Clinic, but chose to move to a multi-franchise dealer specialising in Renault, Kia, and Daihatsu when the opportunity arose 10 years later. The change was a good one, as it allowed him to expand his knowledge of motor technology. After climbing the ranks to become a service manager, he opened French Tech Auto in 2004. Dhaya’s involvement with MIWA began in 2008 when he joined the association’s exco. He has been an active member since: in addition to serving on RMI’s exco, he has also chaired MIWA’s KZN exco as well as RMI’s exco and is currently a member of MIWA’s NEC.
Raven Naidoo
Raven’s interest in the motor industry stretches back as far as his high school days when he first started fixing cars at his house, attending motor mechanics classes at the same time so that he could qualify as a diesel mechanic. He opened his own company, Powertrans, after some time at Bell Equipment, and the company came to be known as an expert in the transmission field.
Raven’s entrepreneurial streak has continued unabated, and he has gone on to build businesses in construction, and agriculture as well as the automotive industry. He has also acquired several automotive franchises, including Bosch Diesel Service and Diesel-Electric Zululand.
With over five decades of work experience in different arenas of the automotive world, Raven continues to maintain and grow his businesses and has accepted the role of vice chairman of the local KZN chapter of the MIWA.
Suren Sewcharren
Suren qualified as a diesel mechanic in 1995, seven years after he first started working in the industry. He founded Hino Tech Motors in 2008, after first consolidating his skills at McCarthy Toyota Trucks.
Suren has established the business as a leader in commercial truck repair, specialising in service and repair to corporate business fleets and vehicles; a reputation built on his own hard work, business acumen, and determination. Today, Hino Tech Motors’ clientele includes many of the top branded transport and logistics fleets and vehicles in South Africa.
Apart from its accent on service, Hino Tech Motors has distinguished itself by providing 24-hour roadside assistance.
The business is dedicated to empowering technicians through skills development and is associated with the Motor Industry Bargaining Council