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Entrepreneur one on one Driving environmental standards
Driving environmental standards
Established in December 2007, Nsovo Environmental Consulting is an environmental consulting firm with clients in corporate, mining, industry, private, government and emerging renewable energy spheres. Nsovo utilises the qualifications, experience and expertise of its team members across multiple disciplines to develop financially and environmentally beneficial relationships with its clients through the identification and provision of sound environmental solutions, ensuring environmental compliance and sustainability, improving process efficiency, and designing elegant, cost-effective solutions. Most importantly, the aim is to reduce its clients’ environmental impact
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Interview by Mark Pettipher Words by David Steynberg
When you know who you are and your mission is clear, life becomes more purposeful. This is one of the key lessons Munyadziwa Rikhotso’s father – the former principal and guidance teacher at Tshikevha Christian School – taught her. “He stands out as the key influence in my life,” she said, noting that knowing her academic strength as a scholar and following her passion is what led her to studying a BSc in geography and environmental management at Wits, and following it up with an honours qualification in environmental management.
“It was while I was pursuing my studies that a greater focus was being placed on the environment, and the impact development had. The South African legislation became increasingly stringent, which created more work opportunities in that space. It’s ironic, because while the fashion of the day was maths and science, my love and passion for geography and earth sciences landed me in a niche market at a time when the environment and sustainability were top of the agenda in most countries, including South Africa.” W
How many students can say that, even before they embarked on their honours studies, they were working with and consulting to businesses that required their skills, knowledge and expertise? This is exactly what happened to Rikhotso.
“While I was working on my honours degree, I was already working,” she says, noting that it put her on a fast track to employment at established environmental consulting firms. “I worked as a consultant for four years before starting my own business, Nsovo Environmental Consulting, in 2007. The four years allowed me to gather experience and understand the technicalities of the work. However, to take the risk, quit my job and dive headfirst into my own business, I needed my faith to be greater than fear. When I got that point, I took the leap.
“I started out by myself, flying solo until 2012, when Nsovo landed Eskom’s Kusile power station project, which required us to deploy two ECOs over a three-year period. I knew then that I needed to hire more people. Today we employ 13 professionals – six in the Midrand office, and the other seven deployed in various provinces to service clients.”
The company Rikhotso has built is a multi-disciplined environmental consulting
firm, which assists its clients by identifying sound environmental solutions that ensure both environmental compliance and sustainability.
Nsovo’s approach to business aims to reduce its clients’ regulatory burden as far as practically possible.
Rikhotso admits that when Property Point appeared on her radar two years ago, she was on the verge of “retiring” from the business and pursuing her other passion: events and hospitality.
“When I met the team at Property Point, they encouraged me to keep working on what I was building, and helped me realise that my business was actually bigger than I initially believed,” she says. “Property Point has kept me on my toes. The advice it’s provided to keep on working on what I had started was a definite ‘aha moment’, and a turning point for my business. I’m grateful to this day that I carried on doing what I was doing. Despite the rather cold economic climate, we have managed to keep the business afloat and have seen notable growth.”
Rikhotso says that while much of the initial value proposition in the business was based on black-ownership, the business today is reputable beyond its BEE status.
“We have done well in terms of building a reputable business,” she says. “Our work culture, our faith and the quality of the services we provide set us apart in the industry. This has allowed us to build meaningful relationships with our clients” Looking ahead to the next five years, Rikhotso says that she is working on an exit strategy, noting that Property Point is advising and assisting her in the development of a succession plan.
So what’s next for this entrepreneur and young mother of two?
“I would love to expand my horizons and venture into hospitality,” she says. “I have always had an interest in property investment, and have invested in several properties through the years. I have already earmarked one of the properties in my portfolio for the development of
a boutique hotel to nurture my passion for hospitality.”
Young as she is, she’s already a recipient of a Standard Bank Top Businesswoman Award. Her advice to up-and-coming entrepreneurs is to first get to know and understand who they are as individuals, before finding their niche and embarking on a unique business journey.
“It’s easier to succeed in something if that something is passion-driven – and if you are ‘doing you’ and staying authentic,” she says. “Be patient with yourself – it takes huge amounts of time, effort and sacrifice to build anything sound.
“Your faith is important because it helps you understand things and make sound decisions. Most importantly, wisdom will carry you through.”
www.nsovo.co.za
Munyadziwa Rikhotso
E-mail: admin@nsovo.co.za Phone: 071 602 2369 Fax: 086 602 8821 Tel: 011 041 3689 (Gauteng) Tel: 015 065 0884 (Polokwane)
“Kagiso Trust is deeply rooted in education. Socioeconomic development is key for us, and entrepreneurship is part of that. The property industry is a R5.8-trillion business, yet it’s at the top of the least-transformed sectors. Through this programme, we want to do something about it.” It is with these words that Mankodi Moitse, CEO of the Kagiso Trust, launched the Property Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme, PROPreneurX, at the Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg
Compiled by Maud Nale
The evening culminated in a keynote address by Dr Judy Dlamini, entrepreneur, author, philanthropist and founder and Executive Chairman of the Mbekani Group.
BELOW Winners at the inaugural PROPreneurX launch, with representatives from YIEDI and SASDC, and (seated from left) Kagiso Trust Chairperson Ipeleng Mkhari, Reverend Frank Chikane and Dr Judy Dlamini
Moitse went on to say, “We are giving birth to something that has been in the making for more than three years. As Kagiso Trust, we believe that we can think of solutions, and how we can get development going forward in the interest of all South Africans – in particular those who have been excluded from the economy and development of our country. Our vision is to see a South Africa that is prosperous. We cannot do so unless it is peaceful, equitable and just.
“We have partnered with Motseng Investment Holdings and the South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC), who will help us fine-tune this model into one of excellence. Creating transformation and development for black-led businesses in the property sector, we will be collectively contributing to taking South Africa forward.” A
SAPOA Immediate Past President and Chief Executive Officer of Motseng Investment Holdings Ipeleng Mkhari echoed Moitse’s sentiments. “As we celebrate, it is a fitting tribute to the transformation imperatives of this country to initiate a programme that will empower, enable, support and grow new and upcoming commercial property practitioners in the country,” she said. “We are making strides in various fields; however, the gaping hole for economic participation is in the property sector.
”When Motseng Investment Holdings and Kagiso Trust first met to discuss our partnership for PROPreneurX, it was very clear that we needed a strong, relevant offering for prospective applicants who were interested in the programme – an offering that not only saw them taking part in the initiative but exiting the programme empowered, sustainable and ready to create jobs.”
According to Mkhari, it was imperative to find the right strategic partners for the implementation of the programme. “We needed concrete implementation partners,” she said. “Our partnership with the Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute (YIEDI) and the South African Supplier Diversity Council has helped us identify the talent in places we couldn’t reach, and enhanced the programme with resources
and training to build successful property enterprises and future real estate magnates.” Mkhari concluded by inviting those present, co-investors and partners to collectively direct their resources and time towards the success of PROPreneurX.
What followed was a showcase of all 13 founding winners – a diverse group of companies ranging from architectural and design firms, property consultants and project managers, to cabinet manufacturers and facilities management specialists. The winners include established companies with an international presence and patents, as well as newcomers into the commercial property sector.
The PROPreneurX initiative Kagiso Trust, Motseng Investment Holdings and SASDC identified the commercial property sector as a suitable platform to support entrepreneurs servicing the property sector.
The nexus of the approach is the new property accelerator (PROPreneurX), as well as masterclasses that will include capacitybuilding, knowledge-sharing, innovation, technology, environmental awareness and mentoring, which will be provided by YIEDI over a six-month period.
YIEDI Chief Executive Officer Jayshree Naidoo had some insights into the property industry. “The overall market size of commercial property in relation to the GDP of South Africa, and its impact on property and the value chain of property, is vast and necessitates active transformation to redress the state of the sector and improve areas of preferential procurement,” she said. “It has now become critical for businesses and industry leaders to assess appropriate mechanisms to: ● Address the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the most practical manner and ensure that it is leveraged as a tool for growth; ● Identify opportunities to re-skill existing talent and attract new talent within the sector; ● Support and encourage entrepreneurial talent to drive job creation and expand
the sector by creating access to market opportunities."
The PROPreneurX programme is a property entrepreneur accelerator designed to provide the support needed to grow a business, gain visibility and traction for business growth, as well as receive advice from mentors on matters related to taking the business to the next level. Participants will also receive support services in the areas of marketing and branding, and professional media packs.
The PROPreneurX Accelerator is an intense programme consisting of business development and enablement, mentoring and coaching, and investor readiness. It is not a funding programme.
Eligibility criteria Your business must be servicing the property industry in any of the following sectors: ● Business operations and maintenance ● Facilities management services ● Business and office services ● Management services
In addition, the business must also meet the following criteria: ● The business is currently operational, is a going concern, and is commercially sustainable and viable. ● The business is already servicing the property industry with a service or a product.
● The business is black-owned and managed. ● The applicant is involved in the business’s daily operations and management on a full-time basis, and is not employed by any other organisation or organ of state. ● The business is registered and headquartered within the borders of South Africa. ● The business is in the early/mid stages of growth (older than one year). ● The business is not currently participating in any other enterprise development programme or business development programme. ● The business is not be an NPO (non-profit organisation). ● The business should be able to demonstrate its turnover through financial records or purchase orders for the past six to 12 months.
Some of the development modules include: ● Marketing and branding ● Strategy ● Financial management ● Design thinking ● General management ● Social media ● Project management ● Legal and compliance ● Governance and ethics ● Project management ● Human resources management
About the partners Motseng Investment Holdings is a black woman-owned strategic investment and property investment business that’s been operating for 21 years. As an established commercial property developer, owner and manager, Motseng prides itself in creating sustainable business partnerships in the sector. Motseng is only too aware of the challenges and exceedingly harsh conditions faced by new entrants into the property sector. For more information, contact Chief Executive Officer Ipeleng Mkhari at ipeleng@motseng.co.za.
Kagiso Trust is one of South Africa’s oldest and leading development agencies working towards a prosperous, peaceful, equitable and just society. We work to overcome poverty by developing and implementing scalable, replicable, sustainable development programme models. For more information, contact Socio-Economic Development Head Mohlolo Selala at MSelala@kagiso.co.za.
The South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC) provides a growing business ecosystem, wherein corporate members pursue a common sense of purpose and leverage the platform to access unique benefits and services. The SASDC believes that change is a rewarding journey, one which it is eager to undertake together with corporate South Africa. For more information, contact Chief Executive Officer Gary Joseph at gary.joseph@sasdc.org.za.
About YIEDI The Youth Innovation Entrepreneurship Design Institute (YIEDI) is a consultancy focused on transforming South Africa through innovation and entrepreneurship. YIEDI focuses on innovation and strategy consulting, incubation design and management, entrepreneurship and supplier development, and digital and e-learning solutions. Over the years, YIEDI has played an integral part in framing and understanding the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem in South Africa. Having engaged with and transformed the lives of many entrepreneurs, YIEDI’s innovation and entrepreneurship model, methodology and approach have proven to be highly successful. It has also helped organisations create and embed a culture of innovation, and currently assists organisations with outsourced development programmes and accelerators. YIEDI is a Level 1 BBBEE contributor. For more information, contact Chief Executive Officer Jayshree Naidoo at jayshreen@yiedi.co.za.
Dipuo Phakathi c: +27 (0)78 287 4466 e: dipuo@denic-cabinets.co.za w: denic-cabinets.co.za
Simangaliso Xekethwane c: +27 (0)81 897 6329 e: Smanga@wekreate.co.za w: wekreate.co.za
Bonolo Gueye c: +27 (0)82 578 0357 e: Bonolo@maikae.co.za w: maikae.co.za
Jacob Mamjate c: +27 (0)76 180 1532 e: info@bito.co.za w: bito.co.za
Tebogo Shirinda c: +27 (0)84 517 4697 e: tebogo@shirinda.co.za w: shirinda.co.za
Ezekiel Lerata c: +27 (0)73 081 7038 e: ezyletuka@gmail.com
144 Oxford
Johannesburg
optimal engineering
STRUCTURAL, CIVIL,
MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL,
AND FAÇADE ENGINEERS.
CT - JHB - DBN - NAIROBI - TYGER VALLEY
IN LOVING MEMORY OF RICHARD JOHN PELWANA MAPONYA
24 December 1920 - 6 January 2020
Richard Maponya was an entrepreneur and property developer best known for building a business empire despite the restrictions apartheid imposed on black South Africans. He was fiercely determined to see Soweto develop economically. In April 2007, he received the Grand Counsellor of the Baobab for distinguished service. He realised his dream of building a mall in the heart of Soweto with Maponya Mall in September of the same year. The South African Council of Shopping Centres awarded him the Pioneer Award in 2013 in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the retail real estate sector.
Mr Maponya will be remembered for his innovation and forward thinking and for the substantial mark he has made on our industry.
Our hearts, prayers and deepest sympathies go out to her family, friends and colleagues.
Mpho Nangu c: +27 (0)71 189 3078 e: Mpho@nangu.co.za w: nangufacilitiesmanagement.co.za
Mokgadi Letsoalo c: +27 (0)61 865 4932 e: mokgadi@buildfix.co.za w: buildfix.co.za
Malesela Peter Kumbuyo c: +27 (0)83 418 6133 e: lpair@telkomsa.net w: lpair.co.za
Ntokozo Coka c: +27 (0)71 540 0580 e: n.coka@kondwani.co.za w: kondwani.co.za
PROPreneurX launch SOUTH AFRICAN PROPERTY
REVIEW The voice for the industry
Each SAPOA member is a leading player and decision-maker in the commercial property arena, they use the South African Property Review as a way to gain important peer exposure and recognition. With a South African property market value in excess of R5,7-trillion, SAPOA members control about 90% of South Africa’s private sector
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commercial land and buildings stock, and manage the majority of property funds listed on the JSE.
Open to all commercial property professionals, advertising in the online South African Property Review is an ideal way to reach these important decision-makers.
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● Interactive reading and rich media ● Downloadable connected digital data links and much more ● Reader engagement through websites and e-mail hot links ● Interactive advertising ● Call to action opportunities ● The stories behind the stories ● One-on-One interviews ● On Show showcasing properties ● Linkedin and Facebook following
May 2019 / Jan 2020
Total sessions Total page views Average time spent (minutes)
According to Google an average time spent on a website blog is 4min. South African Property Review’s average read time per month is 10min 27s, 2.5 times the average online retention rate.
For advertising opportunities and rates contact t: +27 (0)21 856 1276 / e: pieter@mpdps.com
