15 Sep 2014

Determination, hardwork and confidence go a long way especially when someone wants to start a business. Believing in oneself is essential and very important because one will come across elements of discouragement.


Mr Chester Makabea of Lekgolobotlo in the Southern District has a proper plan, passion and great focus when it comes to business. He has been in business before relocating to Hereford in Kgalagadi District in 1978 due to work commitments.


In an interview, Mr Makabea said the business is not all about making profits and being rich because there are times when money is not coming as one expects.  

In small business one has to take control of everything including finances but also give oneself a chance to save and pay off debt. 
 Mr Makabea first started with a bottle store named Itlhophele in 1990 in Hereford.

He used his wages from building to start this business. What made him to open a bottle store was because during that time there was no business of this kind as he wanted to do something different to avoid competing with other business people.

He further said the community really liked his bottle store because he treated everyone equally and to be in a business industry there should be no one who is treated better than the other.

In his bottle store he employed two people who could help to serve customers because he had some other commitments. 
 With time, the Lekgolobotlo born used his profits to expand his shop so that he could increase the number of employees and provide more services to his customers.

In 1996 he extended his business and built butchery and later that year he extended to include a general dealer again. In all his three businesses so far he has six employees, two in each shop.


“If you want to have a successful business you need to put all your ideas on paper in a sequence and then put them in order to start at the top. Just take one step at a time and don’t rush to anything,” said Mr Makabea. 


He mentioned that today there are many businesses in Hereford and he keeps his customers by providing them with monthly specials and he has a contract with SUPA7 store.
SUPA7 gives him discount in all products so that he can be able to gain a profit and help him to promote his business with these monthly specials.

He said keeping customers happy is by giving them rewards to show that you appreciate their support. He noted that Sefalana Wholesale delivers his stock most of the time.

He said he won some tenders to provide orphaned and less privileged students from Werda and Hereford with toiletries.
 Like any other businesses Mr Makabea faces a lot of challenges among them when employees leave work without notice.

He further mentioned that his employees don’t last long but they never tell if they are unhappy at the workplace or not. The distance from Tsabong to Werda is very long and the road from Werda to Hereford is not in good condition and this could have effect on pricing. He said businesses have many challenges and it needs patience and care.

He said in the business world people should benchmark from big businesses so that they can know and understand how others have achieved to be where they are.