Brian Tlhotse, Founder of the Mokerong Group, joined Channel Africa to share his journey of establishing a black-owned engineering and turnkey solutions firm in a space long dominated by more established players.

A Civil Engineer by profession, Tlhotse found his calling in the mining sector where he gained hands-on experience in mechanical engineering, particularly in the servicing of earth-moving equipment. This exposure inspired him to launch Mokerong Group, a company now offering fabrication, civil works, and mechanical repairs.

“It’s still a ring-fenced industry, and we as black entrepreneurs need to make inroads,” said Tlhotse. “I saw the opportunity and decided to contribute meaningfully to the sector.”

The road to success, however, has not been smooth. Tlhotse described the uncertainty of leaving salaried employment for the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship. “We face credibility issues. Clients are hesitant to work with newcomers, especially in precision-heavy sectors like mechanical engineering,” he explained.

Access to funding remains one of the biggest hurdles. Despite numerous attempts to secure financial support from institutions such as the Small Enterprise Finance Agency and Small Enterprise Development Agency, Mokerong Group has had to rely on resilience, customer satisfaction, and alliances with industry partners to stay afloat.

“We started small and disciplined,” Tlhotse said. “We focused on delivering quality to the clients we had, knowing that satisfied customers would eventually build our financial profile.”

The company currently employs six full-time staff and hires additional workers as needed. With rented equipment and growing demand, Mokerong continues to bid for work, primarily in the private sector, particularly the mining industry in Limpopo.

Though challenges persist, Tlhotse remains steadfast. “We’re building something sustainable. We may not have all the machinery yet, but we have the vision and determination.”

--ChannelAfrica--