The man who keeps Oshakati on two wheels

Most people walk past his tiny workstation without giving it a second thought. But for security guards rushing to work, children cycling to school and informal traders transporting their goods, Tobias Filipus (51) is the man who keeps Oshakati moving.

For nearly seven years, Filipus has been repairing bicycles from his modest stand at the Oshakati Open Market.

Every day, punctured tyres, broken chains and bent rims find their way to his workshop before leaving ready for the road again.

His customers are mostly security guards, schoolchildren and people from informal settlements who depend on bicycles because they cannot afford other forms of transport.

“Some security guards live at Ongwediva and work at Oshakati. They cannot afford a taxi every day because, as I understand it, they are paid late and their salaries are low. When I fix their bicycles, I am helping them,” he says.

He says many people living in informal settlements also rely on bicycles to go about their daily lives.

“When their bicycles break down, they come here. I repair them so they can continue with their daily lives,” he says.

The father of two’s journey as a bicycle mechanic began when he was still a young boy at his village.

Without any formal training, he learnt the trade through years of practice and continues to improve his skills by watching YouTube tutorials.