David Mphikeleli Mavuso | Mphikeleli Engineering and Services

Programme sponsor: Thungela

“I always say I’m a child of Thungela because I would not be where I am without them. They adopted me and believed in me when I had no experience in the mining sector”

At school, I would sell sweets and vetkoek that I made myself to earn money, and then later I would work in people’s gardens, cutting grass and cleaning up. I fell in love with being independent and making my own money.

I wanted to study civil engineering after Matric, in 1996, but funds were an issue, so I started a business. I began with KID Partners, which won a tender to implement a government feeding scheme, and then in 1999, I started Mphikileli, focusing on civil engineering services. So, I’ve never worked for anyone else. I’ve always been self-employed.

I would like to thank my mother who has always believed in my entrepreneurship journey. She identified my career path while I was still young and supported me throughout. She also advised my wife to support me in every season because she knew that one day I would become a very successful businessman.

Mphikeleli has grown and changed since I founded it. We originally only worked with government, tendering on projects to build schools or government buildings. We battled with late payments and so we turned our attention to getting work from private-sector clients too. Today, we have three business divisions: civil works, from construction to maintenance; engineering services, such as boiler-making and fabrication of equipment; and industrial cleaning services.

We are based in eMalahleni and in 2023 we opened a second branch in Middelburg. We are currently in the process of opening branches in the Northern Cape and Gauteng.

Implementing lessons into the business

The Thuthukani programme has taught me so much, especially in terms of financial management – reading a balance sheet or income statement. I can now do many things myself that I previously had to rely on someone else to do for me.

The balance sheet and employment growth show the results. In 2023, it was about sowing into the business – putting the right things in place – and in 2024 we’re starting to reap rewards. In 2023, we had a net profit of R1.8 million. In 2024, between March and July, we were already on a net profit of R3.5 million and we’ve employed between 40 and 45 people between March and August 2024. We’ve also secured three giant new clients and are starting to do business with them.

Something else I have learned through the programme is how to pitch for new business more effectively. I’m ready at any point to pitch to anyone – I can pitch to a high-level executive today if asked!

My dream is to become one of the most successful businessmen in Africa, with offices in every country.

Advice for other entrepreneurs

I believe that if you have the spark of entrepreneurship within you, you just need to be patient and keep pursuing your vision and it will happen. I try to help my own suppliers, especially the young entrepreneurs, to build their own businesses, and I always say that it’s important to remember that no successful business started there. Lots of hard work goes into making a successful business. The key is to have vision, to keep focus and to figure out a way of getting to your vision.

A message for my sponsor

I want to thank Thungela for what they have done for me. I don’t have the words to express my thanks, but I always say I’m a child of Thungela because I would not be where I am without them. They adopted me and believed in me when I had no experience in the mining sector. They gave me their support and I am proud of what we have achieved through the opportunities they made available. What they have done for businesses like mine is an inspiration to me.

I’m also grateful to Raizcorp and their business-development programme for teaching me the skills I need to be able to understand and manage every area of my business. Even if I have someone else doing something for me, I now understand exactly what is going on.