#WIB – Q&A With Ofentse Melato & Tshego Molefi Owners Of Moli&Mela Group
1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
Moli&Mela Group is a waste management company that specializes in the collection
and disposal of waste.
2. When how and why did you start your business?
We registered our business in 2013, and started operating in 2017. We decided to start a business because we were unsatisfied with our 9-5 jobs. We wanted more out of life, therefore we decided to take a leap of faith and fully commit to building a business.
3. What is your role in the business?
Ofentse Melato’s role: Field director. Her role is to ensure operations on the field run efficiently. She handles day- to-day operations hand in hand with the Site Manager. She also forms part of the recruitment and training process.
Tshego Molefi’s role: Managing Director. Her role is to oversee operations, finances and performance of the entire company.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
Ofentse Melato: studied Administration @ Damelin College. “I studied Admin to equip myself with office skills for the hope of getting a good job in corporate.”
Tshego Molefi: studied Journalism @ Tshwane University of Technology .“I studied Journalism because I have a passion for writing, and I had hopes of working for some of the country’s top print companies.”
5. How did you finance your business?
We financed our company by bootstrapping. We managed to buy our first bakkie right after we resigned from our jobs, because we still qualified for credit. Ofentse’s parents also helped us when cashflow was low and bought us our first trailer. Therefore, family played a big role in the beginning. They believed in our vision.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
An average day entails cleaning the recycling site before any work begins. Once that’s done, drivers disperse to all pick up points to start collecting waste. They then deliver the waste to the recycling site where it is separated and sorted by the Waste Sorters. Recyclables are separated from non-recyclables. All the recyclables are then baled and prepared for collection to be recycles.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
We work 80% of the time. But in our spare time we enjoy trying out new restaurants and spending time with friends. We are still in the building phase of the company, therefore, we have made peace that we need to sacrifice time in order to build and re-invest into the business.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
What drives us is creating employment to our disadvantaged community. And what inspires us is to reach greater heights, by building a reputable, trusted and excellent waste management business that will be scaled with top companies in Africa.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
Tshego: “I have my best ideas when I’m home and unwinding.”
Ofentse: “I have my best ideas when I’m on the field and I see glitches that need solutions.”
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
We are old school. We believe in knocking door to door and pitching our services to potential clients. That often leaves a mark, and creates a good impression. We also have a website and social media pages.
11. What is next for your business?
What is next for our business is entering the manufacturing sector. We want to manufacture plastic related products such as wheelie bins, that will be made from recycled plastic.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?
Advice we would give to women starting their business would be:
1- Set your intention. Know why you started the business and what you are going to offer.
2- Outline your values and morals. Always stick to what you believe in. Never sell yourself short or compromise yourself in any way.
3- People say you need connections and bribes to bet ahead in business, but we believe that consistency, hard work and good ethics can get you far.