Three University of the Witwatersrand Business School graduates from Meadowlands are manoeuvring their way in the waste management industry.
Twin brothers Xolile and Xolani Ndhlovu (26) and friend Thabo Masilo (27) were bitten by the entrepreneurship bug during their university years which resulted in them graduating in a field different than that they had initially enrolled for at Wits.
“To change a mainstream career path because you’re following your passion in entrepreneurship is challenging” said Ndhlovu, “Financial security is limited when you’re starting out and time is most is important”.
“Employing people other than you is another challenge as it becomes hard to reprimand them.” added Masilo.
Voted most likely to succeed by their peers, the trio founded a cooperative, Civil Contribution Concepts and has 15 employees under their management.
The co-op aims to be a successful green economy enterprise with a positive social impact in the communities they serve.
The impact is achieved through a) open-space clean-up campaign and maintenance b) public environment workshops to educate communities and create awareness c) youth development (free academic and support and mentoring programme.
Swimming with the big fish has proven to not be an easy task; “It’s not as fancy as it seems to be an executive of an entity.
A ton of hard work goes into making this entity a success. Being street-smart also played a role in where we are today.” said Masilo.
According to Masilo, a task that has been daunting in moving the entity forward is changing the mindsets of communities about recycling and it’s effect on the environment.
“Residents don’t sort out their refuse often.We constantly need to educate them as to why they should recycle but it’s hard for the habit to kick-in.” said Masilo.
Ndhlovu appealed to the community to participate in recycling their refuse which has the potential to decrease the rate of illegal dumping, among other positives.
