As operations get underway at the FAW plant in the Coega IDZ, Bongani Moni a new warehouse manager at the plant who joined the automotive manufacturer in May this year says “The sky’s the limit for the company and its staff, including myself.”

With six staff members reporting to him, Moni has a responsibility to mentor, train and develop his staff to achieve greater heights and succeed at FAW.

Moni adds, “FAW SA provides its employees with a good experience and there is a lot to learn.  I tell them if you do your part, we will be able to deliver and meet these expectations.”

Moni’s duties include: managing staff, overseeing the warehouse, the tool store and the chemical store.

For the Nelson Mandela Bay local resident, who grew up in New Brighton and now lives with his wife and their two daughters in Kwamagxaki, his new roles and responsibilities at FAW (SA) is the pinnacle of his career.

He graduated with a BA Education from the then Vista University (now the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) Missionvale campus) in 1995.

After graduating he found teaching too intimidating and not stimulating enough for him. He subsequently moved into the automotive sector taking a position at General Motors South Africa (GMSA) in Struandale, at the same time completing a National Diploma in Warehouse and Distribution from NMMU.

He left GMSA in 2008 after 12 years, to start together with a business partner, a logistics company based in Johannesburg.  The company distributed manganese, coal and maize to various parts of South Africa and other countries in Africa, however the recession forced the fledgling company to close its doors.

In 2010, he moved back to Port Elizabeth and worked at Mercantile Hospital as a service manager.  He then joined Bidvest for a year before joining FAW SA.  After applying for the position online he then went through three interviews – one with an employment agency and two with FAW – and landed the job as warehouse manager.