Making a Difference
Every day, MISA is at the forefront of social responsibility and worker empowerment. Through our dedicated Forums, we foster inclusivity, gender equality, and upskilling for the future.
MISA Women’s Forum
Every day, MISA members witness the extraordinary work the representatives of the Union's Women's Forum and their teams are doing nationwide. Through our projects, MISA has become a beacon of hope for non-profit organizations by strengthening their hands to continue serving.
Martlé Keyter, Chief Executive Officer: Operations, founded the Women’s Forum in August 2009. We invest in skills, knowledge and lifelong learning experiences. As the vanguard of basic workers' rights, we carry the obligatory responsibility to adequately protect and promote the interests of women in the workplace.
"By taking hands with a network of individuals and organisations in our MISA FAMILY, we can achieve so much more and allow our members to play their part in building a better South Africa for generations to come."
Forum Objectives
MISA Woman of the Year 2026
Will you be the next MISA Woman of the Year? Or do you know of someone in the retail motor industry who might be worthy of this prestigious award? Please nominate yourself or a colleague. The MISA Woman of the Year 2026 will accompany the leadership of the Union on an educational trip to the US.
Success Spotlight
Candice puts Upington on the map
Candice de Beer was overcome with emotion after realising she had made history as the first recipient of the MISA Woman of the Year Award in the Northern Cape.
“It felt like a dream when Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations, announced my name. I started shivering and I cried. I realised that I was making history for the Northern Cape, but especially for Upington. Whenever you tell people that you are from Upington, they will ask where it is. I have always known that Upington and its people are hidden gems, and it is an honor to be able to show our town that the sky is the limit for all of us. Upington is now on the map.”
She was the regional finalist for the prestigious award for two consecutive years in the Free State/Northern Cape region. Candice, a Service Advisor at Upington Toyota, credits her sister Lee-Ann Procter (also a MISA member) for nominating her and urging her not to give up on her goals. She is thrilled to join MISA's leadership on an educational trip to the United States to attend the NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
From the Judges
"She is spontaneous and driven. I was impressed with De Beer’s community work and her ability to think on her feet when she was asked to answer a difficult question."
— Ria Bronkhorst"She wanted to prove to the women of Upington that where there is a will, there is a way and was determined to try again, and to keep on trying despite setbacks and disappointments. She has nerves of steel."
— Ester de BeerIf you can make a contribution or have a suggestion for the Women’s Forum, please contact Karen Gouws on 041 364 0102 or email [email protected].
MISA Young Workers' Forum
Upskilling of workers is essential in a shrinking economy and job market where 63.9% of workers between the ages of 15-24 remain unemployed. MISA believes in investing and developing the future leaders of the retail motor industry.
This is why MISA established the Young Workers’ Forum within the retail motor sector in 2013, designed specifically for members and potential members aged 18 to 35. The forum aims to support the involvement of young people in their workplace and community, helping to empower them by reaching out, responding to their expectations, and fostering long-lasting skills through education and training.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) speaks of building a “better normal” in the post-Covid-19 world of work through its guide on how trade unions can engage more effectively in skills development. This “better normal” focuses on skills development and lifelong learning as technological advances become more influential in the transformation of the workplace.
Forum Objectives
A Trajectory of Excellence
“Unemployment remains the most pressing labour issue in South Africa and it is time that trade unions, employees and employers take responsibility to address the trajectory. The Young Workers’ Forum emphasizes skills development and worker empowerment, boosting the morale and work ethic of the average employee by holding them to higher standards of excellence,” says Martlé Keyter.
MISA actively supports young workers within the retail motor industry through a variety of skills development and training initiatives intended to help them successfully navigate workplace challenges and thrive.
For more information on the MISA Young Workers’ Forum, Soft Skills training and Study Assistance benefits, please contact MISA on 011 476 3920 or email [email protected].