Mpho Makola - Lehudu Portfolio

The hospitality industry in South Africa in on a high and one of the major contributors to its buoyancy are the many young entrepreneurs who are bringing flair, style and new ideas to the table.

One such individual is Emalahleni’s Mpho Makola who at the age of 33 runs his own suite of exclusive luxury rooms and does catering on a big scale. His ambitious Lehudu Portfolio offers guests a number of choices: a B&B experience, an overnight stay and lunch and dinner packages. But that’s not all. Mpho prides himself in providing take-away meals which are delivered to clients. And if that wasn’t a full plate he also runs a catering business with clients as far a field as Nelspruit, Tshwane and Johannesburg.
Mpho began his operation in 2005 from scratch. He has spent all his own money, even dipping into his pension, to float his dream.

Mpho employs four full time staff members and three part-time employees. Over the past three months he has earned about R129 000 but feels he should be making profits in the region of R250 000. Makola used his initial R80 000 KickStart grant to buy kitchen equipment and furniture.

What KickStart meant to him: “The programme really opened doors for me. People only take you seriously when you have succeeded with something.”

Emalahleni, Witbank, Mpumalanga / 013 692 5469 / 078 402 2970 / oamakolam@lehudu.co.za

Thandeka Magagula - Global Communication Network Systems (GCNS)

Thandeka Magagula is a hot communicator and her aim is to provide Internet facilities for everyone. Her company, Global Communication Network Systems (GCNS), is a communications business that deals with everything involved with the Internet.

Thirty-one-year-old Thandeka, who once worked for Telkom, identified a gap in the market and, together with her friend, opened her business. Instead of explaining to a client over the phone how to overcome an Internet problem, as is the case with many companies, GCNS’s service includes going to a client’s house and sorting out the problem. She started the business working from home in March 2005 and has been growing it ever since.

Thandeka employs 15 people, which includes herself and her partner, and her monthly turnover ranges between R70 000 and R80 000.

After matriculating, she attended Pretoria Technikon but when her father died, there were monetary pressures and she decided to join Telkom. She is at present studying through Unisa for a human resources diploma.

She used her initial R70 000 KickStart grant on computers.

Her advice: “Just do it. It’s really tough but if you have everything in place it’s exciting that you are doing something. Also, it’s better creating your own job rather than trying to find one and it gives you a better feeling when you do this.”

Johannesburg, Gauteng / 076 520 5864 / gcns@telkomsa.net / www.gcns.co.za

Thembelihile Mkhwanazi - Mgabashe Coffins and Caskets Manufacturing

Twenty-four year old Thembelihile Mkhwanazi, of Emalahleni near Witbank, is in a business that continues to grow and shows no signs of slowing down. This energetic young business man formed his own company Mgabashe Coffins and Caskets Manufacturing last year to manufacture coffins and caskets that he sells to the local people and undertakers.

While some may find the subject morbid, Mkhwanazi is fulfilling a huge need in the community. He grew up in a family that had a funeral parlour in KwaZulu Natal which was operated by his uncle.

His business was registered in 2005 as a cc and it took him two years to find the necessary funding before being in a position to launch the operation last year. Mkhwanazi has in his employ two full time workers and two part-time workers. This young entrepreneur says turnover is around R12 000 a month.

Family members are occasionally roped in to lend a hand, but Mkhwanazi is happy to take care of business on his own.

Born in KZN, Mkhwanazi moved to Witbank when his father secured a job as a train driver with Spoornet. He received an initial R50 000 from KickStart which he used to purchase equipment such as a compressor, a table saw and a selection of small tools.

What is difficult about running your own business?: “You have to make many sacrifices and compromises.”

Witbank, Mpumalanga / 013 695 3565 / 073 212 4543