A budding businessman who’s being mentored by the Eskom Development Foundation has urged Alex youths to take their destiny into their own hands and not be sidetracked by drugs and other misdemeanours.
Freddy Motau, the owner of Reba Chemicals in Kempton Park, is the winner of the 2017 Eskom Business Investment competition. Motau has since assumed the role of a business model for aspiring entrepreneurs and has travelled Eskom’s own ‘Long Walk to Economic Freedom’.
Read: Entrepreneurs: Take a leap of faith
In an interview with Alex News, Motau urged Alex youths to stay focused on the goals they have set themselves and not to be distracted by drugs, which are not just ravaging Alex youths but youngsters, countrywide.
“In this new dispensation, we need to focus our youths on job creation. We cannot expect to be employed if we ourselves do not create those jobs. The way we can create jobs is by taking up the challenge of becoming entrepreneurs. This is the only way to go if we are to take this country forward,” he said.
Motau started off as an employee at Reba Chemicals, which was owned by Ronald Whitehorn. Motau got the name Reba from the first letter of his name, that of his wife’s name, Edna, sons Brian and Abel. He said he bought the company in 2008 through a loan from Khula and Nedbank and has never looked back.
“I would like to challenge the youth to venture into entrepreneurship and shake off this mentality of always wanting to work for someone else and become their own bosses too, and thereby playing a meaningful role in the economy.
“If the majority of them take up entrepreneurship and create their own companies, the government’s call for economic transformation will not just be a talking point but will become a reality,” Motau said.
Motau said he too was available to play the role of mentor for youths that were interested in becoming entrepreneurs. “I am prepared to give up my time as well and mentor those who are interested. I think I also have a duty to plough back what I have sucked from Eskom and others to help other aspiring entrepreneurs,” he added.
Details: Reba Chemicals 011 976 4938; freddy.motau@rebachemicals.co.za
