Car enthusiasts from Eswatini were among thousands of motoring fans who gathered in Bela-Bela, South Africa, from February 6–8, 2026, for the highly-anticipated Vdub Campfest. Regarded as one of Southern Africa’s premier automotive lifestyle events, the annual festival drew participants and spectators from across the region.
The event celebrated car culture in its many forms, showcasing customised builds, restored classics, performance vehicles and innovative projects.
Eswatini participants displayed their cars alongside entries from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and beyond, underscoring the steady rise and growing recognition of the local modification scene.
Beyond the show floor, Campfest offered live entertainment, food stalls and networking opportunities, reinforcing its reputation as a platform that brings together motoring communities united by a shared passion.
… breaking barriers: Thandiswa Dlamini’s Campfest journey
One of the standout stories from the Eswatini delegation was that of Thandiswa Masentle Dlamini, the only woman among nine travellers from the country.
A film producer, director, writer and dedicated petrol head, Dlamini described the trip as both inspiring and deeply personal.
“We embarked on a journey to the SA Campfest dubbed the VDUB festival, which showcases modified VW, Audi and Lamborghini cars from all around South Africa,” she said.
“It’s a mechanical sport and a very costly one, but one that fuels creativity and innovation.”
A highlight of her experience was an unexpected and seamless interaction with Mumbo Repairs, one of South Africa’s most popular automotive vloggers and mechanics. “He approached me for an interview and from that first moment, we clicked. At the time, I didn’t even know who he was, I was just happy to be geeking out about the wonders before our eyes,” she recalled. Since then, Dlamini says she has immersed herself in his YouTube and Instagram content, drawing inspiration and learning from his work.
Dlamini believes the growth of the automotive modification industry in the country starts at grassroots level.
“Perhaps the industry should first grow by drawing citizens into taking better care of their cars and modifying them to their own specifications,” she said, noting that modification is not limited to lowered suspensions or ECU reprogramming.
“It can be paint jobs, spoilers, rims and general maintenance. When that foundation is in place, a strong community of like-minded enthusiasts can facilitate platforms like this with ease.”
Her passion is also rooted in memory. Dlamini paid tribute to her late best friend, Steven Hillary, a devoted motor enthusiast whose love for cars shaped her own outlook.
From road trips taken just to listen to an engine run, to garage sessions watching motorsport content and attempting DIY fixes, those moments ignited her belief that a car could be designed to suit personal vision and desire. “Years later, his soul still lingers in my heart,” she said.
Today, Dlamini is working on her first project car, a Golf 6 GT, and continues to learn within the Drags and Stance family, where she is one of only two women. She describes the experience as empowering, saying the exposure, mentorship and camaraderie reaffirm that women have a firm place in the automotive space.
Leave a comment