Mahlako A Phahla Investments

Meta Mhlari and Makole Mupita – Founders and Executive Directors of Mahlako A Phahla Investments.

DYNAMIC DUO AT THE FOREFRONT OF MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR

Mahlako A Phahla Investments (Mahlako) is a pioneering investment holding firm, founded by two sisters, Makole Mupita and Meta Mhlarhi, who are at the forefront of developing large infrastructure projects in the renewable energy sector.

Over the last 14 years, Mahlako has commissioned ground-breaking social infrastructure projects focused on the delivery of effective socio-economic developmental assets, implementable solutions that deliver sustainable impact and superior risk adjusted return profiles over the long term.

“Mahlako A Phahla is named after our mother Mahlako, to pay homage to her pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit in building a successful family business at a time when it was difficult for many black people to do so,” says Makole Mupita.

“She passed these traits on to us, and we have never looked back. It is our passion for business, coupled with our experience and track record in the social infrastructure space that led us into creating a group of companies that will be formidable players in the spaces we operate in. With a vision of being a leading women-owned company investing and managing social infrastructure assets while providing innovative solutions”, adds Meta Mhlarhi.

Mahlako’s mission is to drive sustainable development and offer enhanced returns to its stakeholders through the provision of innovative solutions to the public sector and investing across alternative financial services asset classes. The organisation is recognized as a trusted African infrastructure advisory firm delivering innovative and implementable solutions to the public sector and as a trusted alternative fund manager providing profitable investments with a socio-economic impact.

Mahlako is part of the transaction advisory team supporting the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) with the implementation of the Integrated Renewable Energy and Resource Efficiency Programme, also known as the Strategic Infrastructure Projects 28: Photovoltaic and Water Savings Programme on Government Buildings Programme. The Programme is aimed at rolling out Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency (including Solar Geysers), Water Efficiency, and Alternative Waste Management solutions across the Department’s property portfolio. This is done in an effort to enable energy and water efficiency; reduce the production of waste in all public buildings; reduce the carbon footprint of Government immovables assets; reduce Government expenditure on utilities and; facilitate good governance of Government assets.

The Programme will be the largest Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme for the procurement of renewable energy and resource efficiency activities for public facilities, with up to 320 megawatts of renewable energy procured per annum, attracting an initial private sector capital investment of R387 billion.

Mahlako has R4 billion assets under management, being one of the first female-owned companies to invest in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPPP). “We take the lead in advising various public-sector entities on mandates of approximately R500 billion relating to structuring procurement programmes, undertaking large scale projects through Public Private Partnerships, and raising funding for various government infrastructure and job creation programmes from the capital markets”, adds Meta.

In 2020, Mahlako concluded a flagship energy wheeling project with Amazon Web Services (AWS), a first of its kind, taking up a 45% stake. In the same year, Mahlako was appointed by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) for the development of two (2) sites that, once complete will consist of 1 650 social housing units.

Mahlako Financial Services (MFS), a subsidiary of Mahlako, launched a first of its kind R1,75 billion Energy Fund in March 2021. “The financial services sector is ever changing and complex therefore requires an equally innovative and agile fund manager with broad-spectrum knowledge. Our team has extensive experience and solid relationships in the financial industry enabling us to tap into investment opportunities and provide seamless deal sourcing, fund raising, and asset management services to our clients and partners,” says Makole, who is also a Fund Principal at MFS. MFS invests across the infrastructure and alternative asset classes, and ensures enhanced returns for its stakeholders.

In 2022, Mahlako concluded an investment in an industrial independent power generation project for Harmony Gold Mining and commissioned a 30 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) portfolio. In the same year, Mahlako also commenced work on developing a landmark Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Plant in South Africa, called the Prieska Power Reserve, as a co-developer together with the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC).

MFS invests in highly developmental energy assets to grow sustainable businesses that create and retain jobs, alleviate poverty, develop communities and focus on skills development and transfer.

In 2022, MFS won the Best Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Strategy at the 2022 ABSIP Annual Financial Services Award. The award seeks to recognise a business or team in a company, that is transformed, diverse and has a strategy and process for measuring, reporting on the evidence of inclusion of ESG considerations in decision making.

Guided by excellence, adaptability, entrepreneurship, leadership and accountability - Mahlako creates sustainable employment with a staff complement of 28 professionals who combined, have over 100 years of experience in advisory, investment and finance.

In the future, Mahlako plans to expand to the African continent and be an actively empowered innovation hub that develops and promotes brilliance in the energy, financial and infrastructure sectors. 

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel: 011 706 3902

Email: info@mahlako.co.za

Website: www.mahlako.co.za

Address: 345 Rivonia Road, 1st Floor, North Wing, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2191