By: Jameel Khan, Head of Projects at SAICA Enterprise Development
Since March 2020 the South African economy has been severely negatively impacted, primarily as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. From March to June, the South African GDP shrank to an annualized 51% on quarter[1] . To add to the economic woes, unemployment in South Africa has been forecasted at 35.1%[2] in quarter three of 2020. Front and center has been small businesses who have been hit the hardest, with our President shining a light on the crucial importance of the survival of small business as well as the impact small business has on South Africa for the future.
Despite these overwhelming statistics, one township entrepreneur has managed to grow his business against all odds, Mr. Kgomotso Motsegoa, the proud owner of Corner Dladla Pizzeria. Corner Dladla Pizzeria is a proudly South African Pizzeria founded in 2017 in Protea North, Soweto. The business currently operates from a shopping mall in Protea North and delivers pizzas in and around the Soweto area. The entity has four permanent employees and employs another five to six casual employees when demand increases.
Mr. Motsegoa joined the Khulisa iBiznis Programme in February 2020, funded by J.P. Morgan and implemented by SAICA Enterprise Development (SAICA ED). As part of the program businesses get access to an exclusive range of FREE interventions which include:
- Back office Accounting, Tax, Compliance, Secretarial and Payroll Support from a dedicated accounting graduate who is overseen by a Qualified CA(SA);
- Monthly Finance Coaching from a Qualified CA(SA); and
- Monthly Bootcamps on Finance related topics.
From January to March 2020 the pizzeria had showed steady revenues but April was a dismal month as a result of the countrywide hard-lockdown. However, as a result of quick planning and interventions from his Finance coach, Mr. Peter Serite CA(SA) from Serite & Associates Chartered Accountants, and Mr Motsegoa’s commitment to the programme, his business reopened stronger than before once the lockdown levels reduced.
“It has brought me nothing but pleasure to have been given the opportunity to be part of such an amazing program. Seeing and contributing toward the growth of such an SMME that has so much potential, has been nothing but a great privilege. None of this would have been possible without the continuous support of the graduates that SAICA also brought to be part of this amazing program. I’m looking forward to seeing Corner Dladla grow to greater heights.” Says Mr. Serite.
May this year saw an unbelievable increase of 543% in sales from the March figures!
Since then, average revenue has stabilized from June to August at 60% more than from Jan to March highlighting the sustainable nature of the business as a result of the changes made by Mr. Motsegoa through his strategic learnings from the program.
How did he do this?
Mr. Motsegoa showed true commitment and dedication to the program from the word go! As a result of this dedication and the expertise of Mr. Peter Serite CA(SA) they were able to plan, pivot and streamline his business strategy during lockdown. Once the restrictions were lifted, he immediately started operating and delivering pizzas locally in a 7km radius, before other major pizza chains started operating. This saw him doing what he does best, Pizza, while taking market share from his rival larger competitors!
We are currently assisting Mr. Motsegoa to access funding in order to grow his business and he is on his way to closing a deal whereby he will supply frozen pizzas to a major supplier.
From this we can learn that for a business to thrive you need only a passionate and committed entrepreneur and expertise from a qualified individual who works and has worked with many other businesses to draw from his experience.
“I am immensely delighted and grateful to be part of the Khulisi iBiznis programme.
The support and guidance from our business coach and his team has fostered business growth and alleviated us on finance and accountancy related pressures making them our perfect sounding board for all our corporate governance matters. This has allowed us to efficiently focus on our day to day running of our entity. Our entity has progressed significantly throughout the months which led us to occupying bigger premises at Shop 21, Protea Point Shopping Centre (2567 Ndaba Drive Protea North, Soweto).
We thank SAICA and the SAICA ED team along with JP Morgan for their platform, generosity and advocating for the township enterprises and the economy at large. We look forward to playing a more meaningful social impact role within our communities at large”, says Mr. Motsegoa.
How can you make a difference by contributing?
SAICA Enterprise Development partners with national and international partners to mobilise our profession of qualified individuals. Our vision remains committed to partner with small business to make a difference in ensuring that our countries entrepreneurs and businesses thrive even amidst such difficult times as a result of the global pandemic
If you are interested in contributing, funding or collaborating on a programme, please email Adelaide Vambe adelaidev@saicaed.co.za
How can you join as a small business?
SAICA ED’s interventions and programmes run as and when we receive funding to run such a program. So please follow us on our social media platforms to be the first to know when we have an open program for you!
Issued by SAICA Enterprise Development
Media contact: Kelly Sin Hidge
[1] https://tradingeconomics.com/south-africa/gdp-growth
[2] https://tradingeconomics.com/south-africa/unemployment-rate
