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

Lindy Molongoa - Kamoka Home Creations

Lindy Molongoa has a passion for designing. So much so that she turned her dream into reality by starting her own interior decorating and soft furnishings manufacturing business in 2005. Thirty-five-year-old Lindy says the important factors that have made her business Kamoka Home Creations such a success have been her self-discipline and creativity.

She offers decorating and designing services to offices and individual homes -  and some of her clients are in the big league. Lindy once worked for a pharmaceutical company and found that she had time on her hands. “I realised then that I had a skill for touching up décor and decorating things as a whole.”

When her contract ended in 2004 she decided she wanted to pursue her interest in the world of interior decorating where she could do the many things she enjoyed like making curtains.

Lindy employs two people on a full time basis and five casual workers when the need arises. Her monthly turnover has been around R28 000 but during a three-month period it varied between R52 000, R49 000 and R37 000 respectively. The initial R40 000 grant she received from SAB KickStart was spent on eight sewing machines, two steam irons, a cutting machine and mannequins.

The benefits of the programme: “With KickStart’s help I have been able to manage my books, sustain my business in the right manner, learn how to take care of my finances and, of course, market myself.”

Tshwane, Gauteng / 072 376 8746 / lilmoblessing@702mail.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