Carnival Biscuits

Owner: Mr. Solly Mojapelo
Business: Carnival Biscuits
Sector: Retail and Manufacturing
Employees: 16
Product: Gauteng Rebuilding Fund

Impact of funds: On 13 July 2021, the Carnival Biscuits retail outlet at Bara Mall, Soweto, was looted and completely vandalised. The business lost all its stock and all its movable equipment. In addition to theft, the store was damaged and flooded. Mojapelo applied for the Rebuilding Fund and his store was able to get it back to full trading before his busiest festive season period.

“I believe that even after the most difficult period for our business, growth is on the cards”.

Growth on the Cards after GEP intervention

It was over 21 years ago when Solly Mojapelo, a teacher of English and Economics and his wife Rose, a chemical analyst, teamed up to turn what was then only a hobby into a successful business. Rose, a talented baker, and Solly, the budding salesman, realised that they could make a decent additional income from the demand for baked goods in the community.

“ I used to sell cakes made from our domestic stove to my colleagues, and after school, I would always have deliveries to make, and we soon realised that with more effort, the business had the potential to grow. It was at this point that, much to the surprise of many that I took a plunge to leave my teaching job to run Carnival Biscuits full time”, explains Solly Mojapelo.

Today Carnival Biscuits has two retail stores and a manufacturing unit. The business employs 16 people. In addition to the directly employed personnel, the business has a profit-sharing programme with individual sellers who make a living by selling their products.

Mojapelo, who hails from Diepkloof, Soweto, realised that scaling the business to its current size would mean a change in their product lineup, and as a result

the business turned its focus into biscuits. In 2001, the first retail store was opened at the Highgate Mall.

“We were not just content with making biscuits; we wanted to make the best biscuits. We essentially had our own product development and innovation unit, where we developed our own unique recipes,” explains Mojapelo.

As all businesses do, Carnival Biscuits has experienced its highs and lows. One of their most significant highs was winning the contract to supply long-distance bus company, Greyhound, with biscuits. “Winning the Greyhound contract was a pinnacle for us. It helped improve our quality standards, and we could create more jobs for the people in our community, says Mojapelo. In 2007, we opened our manufacturing space at the Crown Mines” adds Mojapelo. In 2009, they opened the second retail outlet in Bara Mall.

It, therefore, came as a big blow to Carnival Biscuits when Greyhound announced that it would be closing its doors in February 2021. “Greyhound was our biggest client. The impact of their closure was devastating to us. However, we were still determined to keep the business going and find new customers”, Says Mojapelo.

2021 still had far more in store for the business. On Monday 12 July the Bara Mall Carnival Biscuits retail outlet was looted and completely vandalised. The business lost all its stock and all its movable equipment. In addition to theft, the store was vandalised with electrical and telephone cables ripped from the walls. The shop was also flooded causing thousands of rands worth of damage and leaving the store unable to trade for an extended period.

Mojapelo applied to the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller for the Gauteng Rebuilding Fund.

The funds he received from the Gauteng Rebuilding Fund helped the business get back to trading in time for its business period, the festive season. It has helped stabilise cash flow, replace damaged equipment, and just return to normal trading. Mojapelo draws lessons from this experience: “Our business was not insured, today even a spoon is insured”, he states.

Mojapelo is determined to get the business back on a growth path. “I believe that even after the most difficult period for our business, growth is on the cards for Carnival Biscuits”.

Meet the new GM: Partnerships and Revenue Generation, Nosipho Khonkwane

Meet the new GM: Partnerships and Revenue Generation, Nosipho Khonkwane

Who is Nosipho?

NK: Nosipho is a mother, and wife, who loves to travel and experience new places, transformational, and is results-oriented.

Where are you from?

NK: I was born in Willowvale, a small town, under Mbhashe local Municipality, in the Province of the Eastern Cape. I have lived in Engcobo which is where I did My Junior Secondary and My high school, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and currently I reside in Pretoria.

A very short synopsis of your professional background

NK: My career in SMME development started in 1998 when I joined the National Manufacturing advisor programme in Port Elizabeth as a Cadet/Trainee. I later joined the Small Enterprise Development Agency in 2005, this is where I grew into various leadership positions.

What do you see as the importance of GEP in the Gauteng economy?

NK: GEP creates an enabling environment for entrepreneurship to thrive in Gauteng. GEP is therefore critical in ensuring a well-coordinated entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Gauteng Province.

What do you hope to achieve with GEP?

NK: In my role as GM: Stakeholder relation and Revenue generation, I would like to ensure that we sweat our partnership funds by leveraging funds from our strategic partners. The SMME environment is very fragmented and even the budget is decentralized to various spheres of government, and this is an opportunity for collaborations and the creation of value-added partnerships.

What will success look like for you?

NK: GEP can support more SMMEs than it would have been possible through funding raised from strategic partners. Improved stakeholder satisfaction with the work of GEP.

What drives you?

NK: Finding purpose in what I do, setting clear goals and just the taste of success makes me do more.

What’s your favourite book and why?

NK: My recent read is Closing the gap: the 4TH Industrial Revolution in Africa, It simplifies various 4IR technologies and challenges Africa to embrace 4IR and position to be at the forefront of generating Industry 4.0 innovations as we cannot afford to be mere passive consumers.

Quickfire fun questions

• Hip hop or Gospel? Gospel, it feeds me.
• Coke or Oros? Maybe, Oros, I don’t like too much sugar
• Will Smith or Denzel Washington? Denzel Washington
• Sneakers or Heels? Heels
• Chicken Curry or Braai meat? Braai meat

The GEP’s Co-operative sector Based Programme continues to make important strides.

Nadas Pillay – Manager Business Incubation and Co-Operatives

The Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP) initiated a programme for Co-operatives focusing on five different business sectors namely: Agro-processing (West Rand Region), Manufacturing (Tshwane Region), Construction (Ekurhuleni Region), Textile (Sedibeng Region) and Services and Goods (Johannesburg Region). ‘

This programme, known as Co-operative Sector Based Programme (CSBP) took place during December 2021 and January 2022 and was facilitated by a SETA accredited service provider. It benefited approximately 100 co-operatives, with two members attending per co-operative.

The CSBP 5-day programme covered the following topics:

• Enterprise selection principles (enterprise development skills)
• Recording of the income and different costs in an agri-business (financial management skills)
• Basic human resource management (human resource skills)
• Handle inputs and stock in agri-business (product development)
• Marketing (marketing skills)
• Basic financial literacy
• Apply basic HR principles in a new venture

The attendees also received practical training in:

• making various food products (food processing);
• steel manufacturing
• manufacturing a 3-ply Face Cloth Mask according to Dti regulations (textile);

Each Co-operative was assisted in drafting an individual business plan and qualifying co-operatives received equipment related to their areas of focus including:

• microwave, electric blender, spoons and measuring cups (food processing);
• welding machine, grinder and leather gloves (steel manufacturing);
• sewing machine (textile);
• high pressure washing machine (services).

The training and workshops ended with each of the participating members receiving a Merit Certificate accredited with the Agri Seta and Services SETA. The GEP also assisted the co-operatives with CIPC name reservation and plans to help provide them with exposure to potential markets when they are ready to produce products and services at the required standards.

Spotlight On A Region: Sedibeng

In this issue, we took time to get to know what makes our colleagues in the Sedibeng Region tick. Our Sedibeng regional office consists of two offices, Vereeniging and Heidelberg and looks after entrepreneurs in the vast of South of Gauteng area. The Regional Manager, Sello Manoto, who has been with GEP for 14 years, tells us more about the region and the GEP’s work in the area.

Good day, Sello, tell us about Sedibeng and what makes it interesting:

Sedibeng Region is based in the South of Gauteng. It is comprised of three local municipalities, namely, Emfuleni, Lesedi, and Midvaal. Emfuleni consists of Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark towns. It has various townships under it. Midvaal has Meyerton and Walkerville and townships. Lesedi consists of Heidelberg and Devon with various townships under it. It is situated right next to the Great Vaal River. It is also located at the border between Gauteng and Free State. The majority of the population has roots in the Free State and Lesotho. Politically, it has Sharpeville, which is where 69 people were massacred in 1960 and the most significant rent boycott that took place in Sebokeng in September 1985.

What economic challenges and opportunities do you and the team see in your region?

The region is the hub of the steel manufacturing sector. Arcelor-Mittal is one of the biggest employers after the municipalities. The region has British American Tobacco situated in Heidelberg. It is the biggest tobacco production site in Southern Africa. It also has Heineken Brewery situated in Meyerton. As classified by Gauteng Provincial Government, the region is one of the most depressed economically. The majority of people are dependent on grants, and unemployment levels are pretty high. In terms of tourism, the region is doing reasonably well. However, there is a potential to do better. The Sedibeng District Municipality is pursuing various initiatives through the economic recovery plan. The agroprocessing industry is also gaining momentum in the area. In few years, the region will be the food basket of Gauteng as envisaged by the Provincial Government. Vaal River City is also on the plans as part of the Special Economic Zone opportunity.

Tell us about the difference you think the presence of GEP makes in the region

GEP has done a lot for the Co-operatives and SMMEs in the region. The region managed to change and transformation to people’s lives. Through our workshops, we were able to convince the majority to focus on entrepreneurship instead of seeking very scarce employment. The youth in the region are so vibrant. They are taking advantage of the opportunities. As GEP, we will do our utmost to assist them in realising their potential and achieving their economic dreams. We work very well with various Local Economic Development units in the municipalities and believe the partnership will benefit the SMMEs and Cooperatives in the region.

What excites you about the region and its future

Vaal, as commonly known, is the future economic hub of Gauteng. The area has vast land across, and the investors and developers will soon flood the area. Further-more, it is strategically situated next to two national roads, which is N1 and N3. These are the two busiest routes in the country, and the region should take advantage of the opportunities these two presents. In addition, the creative economy has the potential to create more jobs in this area. In the announcement of the District Development Model by the President in his State of the Nation Address, Sedibeng was announced as the pilot for this model, which will definitely assist with the growth of the region economically.

Tell us about the regional team (who, what they do)

The region has a dynamic team. We understand that a team is there to accomplish a particular task, and we are conscious of that. The team is focused on making sure we deliver as guided by the APP. As a team leader, I have absolute confidence in their abilities to deliver on that mandate. I must make mention that the region has recently lost two of its pillars, Ms Johanna Msibi and Ms. Selekeng Mthombeni. May their souls continue to rest in peace. We cannot speak of the success of the region without mentioning their names. We will forever cherish the moments we spent with them. We currently have eight team members in Sedibeng:

• Hopolang Tsoeu – Business Analyst
• Oupa Matjie – Business Analyst
• Alice Mampuru – Business Analyst
• Reuben Kgomo – Cooperative Analyst
• Rebecca Legodi – Information Officer
• Rebecca Gladile – Information Officer
• Thandi Tuge – Receptionist based at Regional Office
• Mpho Makgolane – Receptionist based at the Satellite office

We also have some hidden talents in the team. For instance, Both Oupa and Reuben are soccer players. Rebecca is a good storyteller. Thandi is a good dancer. Hopolang is a good singer. I am a poet/soccer player, and Mpho is good at event planning and a good speaker.

You Are Key To Risk Management At GEP

You are key to risk management at GEP

Effective risk management is critical for GEP to fulfill its mandate, and while there is a unit dedicated to the function, risk management is integrated into GEP’s day to day operations, making all of us responsible. The Acting GM: Risk and Audit, Sibusisiwe Ntuli took some time to answer questions on Risk Management to help the GEP team understand its responsibilities.

What is Risk management (RM)?

RM is a coordinated process to identify, evaluate, respond, manage and address potential risks that may affect the entity.

What are some of the more common things that can put the entity at risk?

There are a number of potential risks in the normal running of any entity, these may include external risks such as security breaches, data loss, cyberattacks, system failures and natural disasters, as well as internal risks such as deviation from policies and processes, leaking of confidential information, fraudulent activities and lack of consequence management.

Who is responsible for RM?

All levels of personnel at GEP are responsible for Risk Management in one way or another. To simplify it:

• The board performs the ultimate oversight function on risk management at GEP.
• The Risk Management Committee (RMC) assists the Board in carrying out its risk governance responsibilities.
• The CEO sets a positive tone for RM throughout the organization.
• Executive and Managers take ownership of the risks and RM within their areas of responsibilities.
• The Risk unit monitors, communicates, and reports on key risk matters to the Board, RMC, EXCO, and other appropriate Board committees.
• The Risk champions co-ordinate RM activities within their respective Business Units without assuming the role of the Risk Owner.
• And as employees we are all responsible for the continuous identification and assessment of the risks attached to our operations.

Tell us more about how can employees play their part?

It is important for the GEP to team understand processes so they can help identify and report risks within their operations. The earlier we can identify potential risks, the more effectively we can manage and mitigate those risks.

How can employees report suspected wrongdoing?

Employees can contact the anonymous hotline through these channels:

HOTLINE DETAILS
Hotline Name: GEP Fraud Hotline
Contact Number: 0800 006 434
WhatsApp Number: 0860 004 004
Dedicated Email Address: gep@behonest.co.za

SMS Number: 48691
Free Post: BNT165, Brooklyn Square, 0075
Website & Chat Link: www.behonest.co.za

What is your message to team GEP on their responsibility?

Team GEP, you are key to risk management at GEP. From ensuring that all policy prescripts are followed on a day to day basis, to not looking the other way, when you suspect wrongdoing, it is through your efforts that we can manage risks and thereby succeed in our efforts of lifting the Gauteng economy through SMME development.

Pulse Profile: Interview With The Newly Appointed General Manager Of Strategy And Monitoring& Evaluation