10 Mar 2014

A friendship forged between two young boys during their childhood years at Sunday school has grown to become a successful business partnership in their adult years.

This is the story of Mr Masole Mothibi and Mr Piletso Dikwata, two young men who were not deterred by their failure to get into tertiary school, but rather laboured to form Waymarks Electrical, now a thriving company that aimed to tender for government jobs in the Letlhakeng area.

Mr Mothibi (29) and Mr Dikwata (30) had always regarded each other as simple childhood friends and church mates, but never as potential business partners.

They completed their Form 5 in successive years, 1995 and 1996, with promising passes. Unfortunately they did not make it to tertiary institutions. They got their big break through a mutual friend, who happened to be in the business of electrical installations.

 He offered them a piece job and they were instantly hooked. “After learning the basics of the trade we ventured out from Letlhakeng and started hunting for jobs in faraway places like Khudumelapye and Takatokwane,” said Mr Dikwata.

They were paid with cows and goats, which they either kept or sold to get cash. In their spare time, the two young men also sought jobs in established companies to add to their work experience.

Mr Dikwata worked for Galaxy Electrical in 2010, where he was part of the team that installed electricity at Mphuthe JSS. Mr Mothibi worked for T.N.S Maintenance in 2009, and he was involved in the electrification of Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) houses in Gaborone. In 2011, they used their savings to register a company called Waymarks Electrical.

Mr Dikwata explained that as Christians they derived the name Waymarks from the bible, where it is used to refer to guiding poles. Currently their company is located along the main road, just 500 meters away from the Letlhakeng circle.

Their company deals with wiring electrical appliances into people’s homes and installing hardware like distribution boxes, wall sockets, switches, bulbs and bulb holders. They have also expanded into selling wall and floor tiles, paints and plumbing materials.

The two paid respects to Ms Stella Segwagwa, the owner of Borakanelo Pty Ltd, where their company is based. They explained that she supported them during hard times and did not evict them even when they failed to pay rent for 10 months. “She shared our dream and she never doubted us. We will always be grateful to her,” said Mr Dikwata.

He also revealed that they got more assistance from a mutual friend who borrowed them his car to use when travelling to do jobs in faraway places. As it continued to grow, Waymark Electrical purchased its own vehicle in 2013.

“We have also employed a saleswoman who manages our office while we are out on the field,” they said. Asked what their future plans are, Mr Dikwata said they want to grow to a point where they are able to tender for government jobs. He said they would like to see their business creating employment for youth in Letlhakeng and contributing to the development of the village. Ends