By Thys Khiba
The Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) has provided the founder Wa Rona Food Enterprise PTY (Ltd), Bokang Lehloenya a delivery vehicle, Nissan NP200, so that she can reach more clients, and grow her porridge business.
This comes after she approached the Destea to assist her with a delivery vehicle that will deal with her transportation challenges.
Lehloenya wanted to supply business outlets that demanded a minimum of 500 bottles of porridge per day.
According to the Destea spokesperson Mojalefa Mphapang, the beneficiary was pushed by her passion in and love for business to apply and approach the department for assistance.
“Furthermore, Lehloenya continued to approach local supermarkets around Welkom to allow her products in their shelves. About three of the mainstream business outlets agreed to her proposal but could not meet their demand supply because each requested a minimum of 500 bottles per day and could only supply 100 bottles due to transportation challenges and insufficient stock.
“The department responded positively by providing her with the value amount of R300 000 to procure NP200 bakkie, additional stock, and payment process to ensure that her product is SABS approved,” said Mphapang.
In March 2021, Lehloenya, who comes from a disadvantaged family, established her business to produce 20 ×500ml bottles of Wa Rona-Motoho Wa Sebele [traditional soft porridge].
Lehloenya is currently working with five employees and is able to meet the demand supply by producing 500 bottles of motoho per day and envisaged to employ more people as soon as other mainstream economic players come on board
“It takes a brave, courageous, and young unemployed graduate willing to work hard instead of complaining by doubling the efforts to grow and sustain my business.
“The fact that I hailed from the very downtrodden and disadvantaged family I was under the impression that only middle-class people are considered, but today, I learned that perseverance leads to success.
“I would like to thank MEC Thabo Meeko and the entire DESTEA team for advancing and improving the local businesses so that we can also contribute to the economy and the creation of job opportunities,” Lehloenya said.
Meanwhile, Lehloenya scooped an amount of R100 000 at 2023 National Presidential SMME and Cooperatives Awards when winning startup business of the year category on 18 November.
The category is used to celebrate SMMEs that are based in the township, newly formed businesses that display vision, creativity, and innovation in breaking ground within their respective operating markets.
The MEC Thabo Meeko has called on private and public institutions such as local schools, hospitals, police stations, inclusive of correctional facilities, to continue participating in growing the township economy by supporting SMMEs.
Meeko said Lehloenya is one of the young, hard-working business people contributing immensely to creating an inclusive rural economy in line with the provisions of the National Development Pan (NDP), particularly in translating its job creation objectives into reality.
“Our departmental programs sharpen our plans to grow township economy and commit on value chain beneficiation to positively respond to the world’s economy that is on a trajectory of slow recovery.
“This makes it difficult to generate growth and bridge the gap between what is required from the government and what can be offered. Therefore, we urge our communities, especially young people, not to worsen the situation by committing to drugs and alcohol abuse, crime, and unplanned pregnancies,” said Meeko.
Courageous and ambitious Welkom resident, Lehloenya, approached the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to empower her as a female entrepreneur. The NYDA and the SEDA managed to assist her with nutritional value and training to attain a certificate to apply for further assistance.
The said agency assisted Lehloenya with the two doors fridge and a Wendy house to operate her business.
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