Each time Makhoba needed to submit a job application or access a simple web page, she had to drive to town for Wi-Fi. Even with data on her phone, the connection at home was unstable. Frustrated, she wrote to every major mobile network operator in South Africa. That determined outreach opened a route into the telecommunications sector and, ultimately, into entrepreneurship.
Rather than wait for circumstances to change, Makhoba used her retrenchment package to complete the necessary occupational health and safety courses. That decision became the foundation of Makhoba Professional Services and marked the beginning of a new relationship with the Vodacom Innovator Trust Supplier Development Program. Through the Vodacom supplier development support, implemented by Innovator Trust, she gained mentorship, compliance training, access to health and safety audits and practical guidance that helped her understand what it would take to build a credible operation.
The journey was demanding. Once her compliance was approved, the real work began. Makhoba realised that passion alone could not sustain the company. Early costing mistakes nearly drained her finances, but mentorship through Innovator Trust helped her identify the gaps and refine her approach. She made the bold decision to appoint experienced technical staff before drawing a salary herself. Project quality improved, and the confidence placed in her team grew.
Further business support gave Makhoba Professional Services structured people-management tools, and role-clarity workshops. These systems helped formalise the business while preserving its personal culture. Staff members are celebrated during important milestones, including baby showers for fathers-to-be. Daily round-table meetings give everyone room to contribute. "It is about creating a workspace where people feel seen and supported," she explains. "When life happens, we carry each other."
About Innovator Trust
The Innovator Trust was created to support the growth of small black-owned Information and Communications Technology (ICT) businesses in South Africa. Through our programmes, we support and nurture the growth of SMMEs by facilitating training that develops the skills as business owners, and providing necessary resources and mentorship, ensuring small businesses become sustainable businesses contributing meaningfully to the ICT sector and the country’s economy.
To find out more about programmes on offer from the Innovator Trust, visit www.innovatortrust.co.za or get in touch via email at az.oc.tsurtrotavonni@ofni.
