Phuti Mphelo | Rasiphelo Maintenance Solutions

Programme sponsor: Exxaro

“My biggest lesson has been simple: systems and planning beat hustle. You can’t grow a business by just working harder – you grow it by building smarter.”

My journey into entrepreneurship began while I was still in the corporate world, doing my articles. I’ve always had an eye for business, but the defining moment came when I realised – by reading about successful entrepreneurs – that true freedom and legacy are built by owning and scaling something of your own.

When my husband’s career required us to relocate to Limpopo, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to step out of corporate and pursue entrepreneurship full-time. Living in Lephalale, a town anchored by mining, power generation and large-scale infrastructure, I noticed how few local businesses truly benefited from the industrial value chain. That gap inspired me to start Rasiphelo Maintenance Solutions.

Rasiphelo is a 100% black woman-owned level 1 BEE company that provides engineering supplies, fabrication, maintenance services and equipment distribution to the mining and power plant industries. Strengthened by our authorised distributor partnerships with SAFIC and Teska Parts, we deliver end-to-end maintenance solutions, ensuring compliance, availability and operational continuity.

The early days were lean. Most of our work was opportunistic – payroll services, staff accommodation and transport – anything that came our way. It was scrappy and uncertain, but it gave us exposure, credibility and the relationships that would later help us grow.

Entering the programme

By the time I started the Raizcorp-powered Supplier Support Programme, we were facing some serious challenges. We lacked focus, margins were poor and we didn’t have a clear path to scalability. Our sales pipeline was inconsistent, operations were difficult to scale and systems and structures were almost non-existent. We were reactive instead of strategically positioned for growth.

A friend told me about Raizcorp after she saw the call for applications on Facebook. I knew immediately that this could be the breakthrough Rasiphelo needed – and I wasn’t wrong.

From survival to strategy

The programme has completely shifted my thinking. My mindset moved from survival to strategy. I’ve learned to see opportunities through the lens of profitability, fit and long-term value. I no longer see myself as just a service provider – I see myself as a builder of business infrastructure.

We’ve repositioned the company from a generalist supplier into a capability-driven business with clear service lines. We strengthened our team, formalised our offerings, refined our costing models and improved cash flow through better supplier negotiations and credit terms.

One of the biggest breakthroughs came when we secured orders from Exxaro Grootegeluk. Delivering on those projects was a milestone. It validated our capabilities, tested our readiness and taught us hard but valuable lessons about project management, compliance and resource allocation under pressure. We had to scale quickly, manage quality and strengthen our supplier network – and it showed me the importance of preparing for demand before it arrives.

As a result, our turnover has doubled and, for the first time, we’ve moved into profit. More than the numbers, it’s proof of concept. It shows me that we’re on the right track and gives me the confidence to take bigger bets.

Building the future

Looking ahead, I’m excited about acquiring an ISO-certified business. It’s the next step in integrating vertically, reducing our reliance on external compliance consultants, opening up a new revenue stream and strengthening our competitiveness in tenders that require SHEQ standards.

In the next two to three years, I see Rasiphelo as a leading engineering and maintenance brand in South Africa with a full-service workshop, an ISO compliance division and an expanded footprint beyond Lephalale.

Lessons for the journey

My biggest lesson has been simple: systems and planning beat hustle. You can’t grow a business by just working harder – you grow it by building smarter. If I could go back and give myself one piece of advice, it would be this: find what the market needs most, refine it, price it properly and deliver it with excellence.

I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity. Thank you to my sponsor, Exxaro Grootegeluk, for believing in entrepreneurs like me. The programme didn’t just help my business – it redefined how I show up in the market. Your support has opened doors I could never have unlocked alone.