FROM GREASE TO GRIT

At an age when many people are slowing down, leaning on pensions or depending on grandchildren for survival, Khumoeng Priscilla Menong (63) is doing the opposite.In the dusty yards of Goo Ramotlhala ward in Kanye, the sharp sound of grinders, the steady rhythm of sandpaper, and the smell of fresh car paint tell the story of a woman who refuses to sit back and wait for help. Menong was born and raised in Borobadilepe ward in Goodhope. She is a mother of two and today runs a panel beating and spray-painting business, a trade that has long been considered a man’s world.Yet for more than three decades, this determined woman has made it her space, her classroom, and her source of dignity.While many of her age-mates rely on social support or the kindness of relatives, Menong survives through the work of her hands.Her journey into the mechanical trade began in 1989, when few women dared to enter workshops filled with heavy machinery and hard labour.What started as curiosity quickly grew into a passion. She committed herself to learning, practising, and improving her skills day after day. Over the years, Menong did not rely on experience alone. She returned to school to acquire more knowledge and professional depth in her work. This decision changed the course of her life.Her skills became so sharp that companies began competing for her services. There was a time when employers would approach her with better offers, each trying to outdo the other with higher salaries.“I worked until 2008, when I decided to open my own business, in spray painting and panel beating,” she said.Starting a business was not easy, as panel beating is physically demanding and requires precision, patience, and confidence when working with machines.The job comes with challenges, especially as one grows older. Wearing her protective overalls and glasses, she moves with the calm assurance of someone who knows her craft well. Her main concern today is space. Working from a yard means security is always on her mind, especially when customers leave behind valuable vehicles. Despite this, she continues to attract clients from around Kanye and beyond.Her reputation is built on results. Cars that arrive scratched, dented, or faded leave renewed, almost as if given a second life. She specialises in both panel beating and spray painting, working on all types of vehicles. To her, restoring a car is more than a job; it is an art. Through this trade, Menong raised her two children into responsible adults. One of her sons followed in her footsteps, choosing the same line of work.He went to school to study the trade and today works alongside his mother. Together, they run the business from their backyard in Goo Ramotlhala ward. It is not unusual to find the two side by side, surrounded by tools, engines, and clouds of dust, united by skill and family bond.Their workspace may be modest, but the spirit within it is powerful. The sound of machines blends with laughter and shared purpose. It is a living example of how skills can be passed down, not just through words, but through action.When The Midweek Sun visited Menong over the weekend, she did not pause her work. She put on her uniform, adjusted her protective glasses, and continued sanding a vehicle panel. Her hands moved with confidence, shaped by years of experience and resilience.

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FROM GREASE TO GRIT