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MUKONDI BUCKS SIBIYA
MAFUNE NOMULWETHU
OWNER OF CONSTRUCTION
A BREAD AND PROJECTS
DISTRIBUTION
COMPANY AND en years ago, Bucks Sibiya was running his start-up company, but
FACILITY it was on shaky ground financially and he didn’t have adequate
MANAGER FOR Texperience.
MUDZWIRI
LODGE However, he refused to throw in the towel and, when a much-
needed opportunity presented itself, Sibiya grabbed it with both hands
and changed his fortunes.
He is living proof of how enterprise development programmes that
involve training and mentorship can change lives.
Since his desire to reach even greater heights in the construction
industry was ignited by Kumba Iron Ore’s entrepreneur empowerment
programme, it’s increased exponentially.
Today, Sibiya employs up to 18 local people through his company,
outh Africa is a country with rich and varied opportunities for Nomulwethu Construction and Projects.
true entrepreneurs and, often, the simplest business models “It is all thanks to Anglo American,” Sibiya says.
Sprove to be the most profitable. “Life has not been the same since my relationship with the company
Mukondi Mafune and her business as an independent distribution began. I am expecting it to change even more.”
contractor for Sasko Bread is the perfect example of such an Sibiya was born and bred in Postmasburg in the Northern Cape, and
enterprise. that’s where he started his company in 2009.
With a start-up loan of R539 473 from Anglo American Zimele’s “Most of us were only small-scale entrepreneurs and opportunities
business hub in Venetia, Limpopo, Mafune launched her business in were hard to come by. Our financial standing, experience and capacity
the Musina area in 2013. were questioned whenever we bid for contracts.”
The contract with Sasko, paired with the low-interest loan from Then came this supplier development programme.
Anglo American Zimele, allowed Mafune to set up her own “It was a two-year programme through which entrepreneurs received
autonomous depot so that she could distribute bread to national extensive training in finance, marketing and human resources. It
retailers, community spaza shops and farm stalls. generally prepared us to manage businesses efficiently. I took
As a qualified accountant, Mafune recognised the cost-saving advantage of the opportunity and it has changed my life.”
significance of using specialised delivery vehicles, and utilised the His company won a contract to build residential units as part of the
funds from Zimele to purchase a Toyota Dyna truck, which can hold R40 million hospital construction project that was financed by the
up to 2 000 loaves of bread for delivery. mining company in Postmasburg in 2015.
“Since then, we’ve purchased three more trucks, and we distribute He was roped in as part of the company’s policy of using local
bread to all national retailers and franchises, all filling stations and suppliers, and it was through this project that his business grew
about 136 spaza shops in our local communities,” says Mafune. beyond his wildest expectations.
“We deliver at least 3 000 loaves of bread a day, and 70 000 “I successfully completed my portion of the project there, and I think
loaves a month,” adds Mafune. they were impressed with my work. Later in 2017, I was awarded
In addition, the loan facilitated the appointment of six permanent another contract to upgrade a state-of-the-art despatch control room
employees – three drivers, two assistants and an administration for the mining and drilling departments, which I completed late last
officer. year,” Sibiya says.
After the morning rush at the depot, Mafune heads off to the De His company is now working on renovations to buildings and one of
Beers Group owned Mudzwiri Lodge in Musina, where she is the the workshops.
facility manager. “My aim is not to rely on Kumba Iron Ore for contracts. I feel
The 28-chalet lodge is home to Anglo American’s diamond empowered by the mining company, which found me at Construction
business De Beers Group employees, and Mafune and her team offer Industry Development Board Grade 0. I’m currently at Grade 4 and,
hospitality and catering services to them so they can feel at home. once I complete the current project, I might end up at Grade 7.
She employs 10 local people who take care of the catering, “I am now exposed to even bigger opportunities in and outside the
laundry and housekeeping at the lodge. In addition, the lodge also mining environment. Through the Anglo American programme, I have
hosts events such as baby showers, birthdays and year-end managed to build sustainable cash flow and capacity in terms of skills,
functions, and it has facilities for training programmes and experience and even working tools.
workshops – all of which are managed by Mafune and her team. “Kumba Iron Ore has helped me in so many ways. Apart from the
“I am lucky to have stumbled across the Anglo American Zimele consistent work, which has allowed my company to grow, it has
hub at a time when I really needed them. The enterprise provided intensive business skills training and mentorship. It also pays
development programme was an eye-opener and I am a better invoices quickly, which makes a big difference to my cash flow and
businessperson because of it. ability to pay my people.
“Their doors are still open to me and I go there any time when “We are very grateful and appreciative of Kumba’s CEO and his team
faced with challenges. They are a very important partner in my for sharing his vision of seeing local communities and business
business,” says Mafune. enterprises benefiting from the lifespan of the mines in our area.”
ANGLO AMERICAN 25 REASONS TO BELIEVE 13