Page 18 - 25 Reasons

uitting her job and investing all her
savings and employment benefits to
Qstart a car tyre and battery sales
business was one of the toughest yet
boldest decisions Nkateko Sithole has made.
“It was one of the scariest moments. I thought,
what if it doesn’t work? But I knew that business
comes with a lot of risk. If it didn’t work out, I would
make another plan,” says Sithole from her business
premises in Musina, along the busy N1 highway
that connects the northernmost border town in
Limpopo to Zimbabwe and beyond.
Her gamble has paid off because she and her
husband, John Thipe, now run Chibadura Trading,
which counts Anglo American among its clients.
Chibadura Trading, in partnership with
Bridgestone SA and Global Wheel, supplies tyres,
batteries and earth-moving rims to Venetia diamond
mine as part of Anglo American’s inclusive
procurement programme.
In 2010, Anglo American launched a group-wide
local procurement policy “in recognition of the
strategic importance of fostering social development
in host communities”.
The company said this was part of its sustainable
vision “for responsible local procurement that
positively contributes to a resilient supply chain, and
the economic and social development of the
communities in which we operate”.
Part of the policy includes finding, mentoring and
supporting local suppliers technically and John Thipe and Nkateko Sithole are beneficiaries of the company’s Venetia mine’s
commercially by providing seed funding, commercial commitment to emerging businesses PHOTO: LUCAS LEDWABA / MUKURUKURU MEDIA
processes and advice, and by incubating
suppliers to source locally and share commercial and SUPER and applies these skills by finding new clients for the
entrepreneurial talent.
business, using social media and other means. Thipe,
It also works with large global multinational
technical skills, as well as to support suppliers to having worked in the car parts industry for years,
already has experience in supply and sales.
become globally competitive. COUPLE Their hard work is paying dividends as they have
The husband and wife team put in a bid for the been able to score a 30-day credit account with
contract in August 2017. Last year, they were Bridgestone and are looking to sign similar deals
announced as the successful bidder and signed a with other suppliers.
contract with Venetia mine that runs until 2023. TREADS “I think it takes passion to run a business. Nkateko
Their dream, however, started way back in 2006, has passion for the business,” says Thipe, explaining
when Thipe quit his job as a car spares salesperson their recipe for success.
to start a business – Chibadura Trading – in the Sithole says that, although she always had a desire
same field. But, without enough capital, he found WHERE to go into business, she wanted to venture into
the going tough and went back to formal something different.
employment. “I just thought women are into salons and all that,
But that was not the end of the dream. The but I wanted to start something different. I thought
entrepreneurial bug also bit Sithole, who decided to OTHERS of the automotive industry. Initially, I wanted to start
resign from her job as a warehouse assistant at a tyre fitment business, but we did not have enough
Venetia and re-establish Chibadura Trading. capital. I knew there was an opportunity because,
the bustling little town. Then came the deal with WON’T when I checked, there were no competitors here in
The going was tough due to the high overheads,
especially the high cost of renting business space in
Musina, so I said: ‘Why not?’”
Their location is also paying dividends as they
Anglo American’s diamond business, De Beers boast a huge client base from across the border in
Group. Zimbabwe.
“Anglo American gave us a big boost. We are so Chibadura Trading “We have a lot of people coming from across the
grateful,” says Thipe. border to buy tyres and car batteries,” says Thipe.
Part of Anglo American’s programme involves shows Anglo American’s This means that, if business is for some reason
collaborating with established suppliers to provide commitment to growing slow on the mine’s side, they are able to sustain their
business management training to newcomers like enterprise through the daily sales of their over-the-
Chibadura Trading. Sithole and Thipe underwent local procurement counter products.
extensive training in Gauteng through Bridgestone The company employs two technicians and a
SA and Global Wheel. They also took part in a and developing supervisor who take care of the daily business of
yearlong incubation project during which they were selling tyres, batteries and number plates. They have
trained in the finer points of business management. enterprises in its registered with the relevant accreditation authorities
“You are dealing with a giant when you’re dealing and plan to expand into other parts of the province.
with Anglo American. You need to ensure that your communities, A major plus is that they are located right in the
things are right,” says Thipe. writes Lucas Ledwaba middle of a planned special economic zone, which is
The plus side is that Sithole studied marketing expected to generate billions in revenue.
18 ANGLO AMERICAN 25 REASONS TO BELIEVE