Hard work pays off for entrepreneur
Published by www.thenewage.co.za on 2 February 2016
Hard work from selling sweets at school to owning a thriving construction company paid off for Koketso Sefoka, 29, who demonstrated that he was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug from an early age. Sefoka always knew that he wanted to own a business however, he understood the value of getting an education first. I decided to study quantity surveying and completed my studies but my desire to be an entrepreneur had not gone away, he said.
The young man ventured into a business deal that allowed him to buy shares in a construction company now known as Motsana BA Projects. Motsana BA Projects is a civil, plant hire and general building construction business located in Pretoria East. The company leases out equipment in the construction and mining industry. Sefoka describes his company as 100% black-owned and a level 3 contributor to the B-BBEE standards. He nostalgically recalls a business he started in the final year of his studies where he was leasing out audio and visual equipment to parties and corporate events to get an income while completing school. I have always been exposed to business as my dad was involved in business and so when I graduated, that was my focus, he said.
Motsana BA projects grew tremendously since 2010 when he bought into the company. The business was rebranded and redefined with a corporate identity. He also registered his business with associations that govern the industry. Sefoka, excited by the prospect of mentorship, joined the Hope Factory to improve the business.
The Hope Factory is an organisation that provides strategic mentorship to equip businesses and entrepreneurs to improve their businesses drastically.
I was selected to become part of the Hope factory in late 2014 and that is where I got an understanding of the financial aspects, branding and corporate governance of my business, he said.
Sefoka said that the highlight in his business in the past five years has been being able to work with construction giant Murray & Roberts as well as employing more people in his business. Motsana BA projects will be targeting the mining sector this year. The goal is to make sure we gain more access to the market but not grow too quickly.
