Nearly 95,000 women work in South Africa’s organised automotive retail aftermarket sector, according to New Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO) data. The report says women account for about 30% of the sector’s 316,945 employees, indicating a notable increase in gender representation compared with past perceptions of the industry as male-dominated.
The figures refer specifically to the organised retail aftermarket, which includes roles connected to automotive parts and related services. While men remain the majority of workers, the data highlights a shift in workforce composition in workplaces such as retail and support functions within the aftermarket value chain. The story is presented as evidence of gradual change, while still pointing to persistent gaps in overall gender diversity within the sector.
At least one outlet frames the development as a sign that long-standing barriers are easing, using the employment and share-of-workforce figures as the main basis for the claim. No conflicting figures or alternative interpretations were included in the provided material.
