Local businessman empowers youth with skills #MakingIt

Tsakane - Starting an unusual or unfamiliar business in the township can be daunting for anyone, as it has its own sets of challenges.

Entrepreneur Themba Gigaba (left) with one of his employees, Sibusiso Dlamini.

If you do get it right, though, the perks can be very fruitful and rewarding.

These can be confirmed by local entrepreneur Themba Gigaba (50) who owns a refrigeration and air conditioning business in Tsakane Extension 19.

After a decade of serving in a company dealing with air conditioning, Gigaba dreamt of owning a business where he could be his own boss, make his own money and empower others by providing them with skills and employment.

“I worked for a company dealing with air conditioning for 10 years, in 2011 I left and in 2013 I started J&T Air Conditioning, supplying companies and schools of Kwatsaduza, Daveyton, Springs and Benoni with installation and repairing of refrigeration and air conditioning.

“Since this was something most people thought blacks could not do, I had to work even harder to prove myself and them wrong.

“The biggest challenge about running such a business is that some of our people are still not used to using aircons, so we first have to educate them about their advantages as, though they may be more costly, in the long run they assist in saving energy as opposed to heaters,” he said.

Gigaba added that another challenge is getting finance when he gets big contracts, as it is sometimes a hassle raising money to buy a lot of air conditioners and then only get paid afterwards for your services.

“And in an effort of giving back, I am assisting two youngsters from KwaThema Ekurhuleni East College to obtain experience in what I do, and the reason for this, is because of the love I have in helping and giving youth practical experience, so they can have something that brings in an income for them.

“Through this, the young people I am helping can use their own hands to make a living for themselves instead of sitting around,” he said.

Other #Making It articles: