Tell us about a bit about yourself and your background.

My name is Zamokuhle Wiseman Magubane, the Managing Director of Enviro Relations. I am a conscientious and self-motivated individual with great enthusiasm and determination to succeed wherever I go. I am dynamic young and upcoming entrepreneur and interested in furthering into business ventures through an entrepreneurship focused career with a love and passion for Geography.

As a young boy, I grew up in an underprivileged community like many kids around the country because of poverty levels. I am the first and only person so far in my family to be a university graduate, holding my Master’s Degree specialising in Geography Education. I do not take this lightly or wear it as a badge of honour rather being the first and only person to graduate is a reflection of where our country comes from and the journey we still have to travel ahead.

At what stage in your life did you decide to get into business?

I am relatively new to the business industry as I recently began to venture into this industry. My aspirations for business came from many of lives challenges. Having received a good education, I have been facing unemployment for a long time. Of course, we live on a globe rife with problems and unemployment has been one of such problems for the South African youth given the percentage of young unemployed people in South Africa. COVID-19 however has is also now part of our lives problems and it has overextended our struggle with unemployment as a youth. Besides unemployment being a push factor for me to get into business, I can safely say that my love for Geography kick-started and have sustained my love for business focused on the Human and Environment Sustainability co-existence.

What sets your business apart from other businesses in your industry?

This company competes in a highly fragmented and competitive market. To make this company stand out from its competitors, it has carefully combined a variety of promotional strategies into a unique marketing mix to gain as much market share as possible. This will happen by rolling-out an e-commerce marketing strategy based on various social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and a brand promise that will set this company apart from its competitors.

What has been your driving force as an entrepreneur?

My driving force as an entrepreneur has been “the product idea” that I wanted to sell to my clients of which is an environmental focused product, the business of waste and environmental management. You can also say the passion that I have for the environment.

How did you come up with the name for your company? How easy or difficult was it?

At first, one had to think through what an attention-grabbing name for our business would be. I then aligned my thoughts for my business name with what my business was set to do. It seemed quite difficult but then again it became relatively easy after thinking through what the purposes of my business ventures were.

What kind of culture exists in your organisation, and how did you establish it?

A democratic organisational culture exists in my business. Establishing this culture happened through establishing and foreground organisational cultural practices. These include but are not at limit to respect for professionalism, solidarity, mutual trust amongst each other and allowing for accountability partner habits to be part of this business.

What does your business do? What products or services do you offer?

Enviro Relations specialises in waste and environmental management that focuses on keeping sustainable and healthy working environments by providing services of hazardous, liquid, organic and recyclable waste. The company strives to also provide training in this industry to empower it role players with skills and knowledge.

The product service line of this company is separated into two 1) consulting/treatment and 2) services. Under consulting/treatment the company provide consulting for and treatment of hazardous waste, liquid waste, organic waste and recyclable waste. The services offered include but are not limited to solid rubbish collection, transportation of waste as well the disposal of waste content materials.

How has being an entrepreneur affected your life?

Being an entrepreneur has taught me to be more accountable and more hands on. I have come to learn that there is no one looking over my shoulders as an aspiring entrepreneur and hence I have developed a mind-set that bolsters me into making sure that I do the work. In, other words I have come to learn to hold my self-more accountable and more responsible in business to succeed in the world of business.

Would you change anything in terms of your journey in business?

Since I am new to the industry, I am still learning the nuances of business. However, I can vouch for the fact that I am a fast learner who is adaptable, and I am always open to learning new things. What I would like to happen in terms of change in my business journey is to explore something completely new to me and the business of waste and environmental management. I believe I can tap into this change by delving deeper into the subject of waste and environmental management to expand my knowledge and focus beyond what I already know in this kind of business.

How do you manage the balance of being an entrepreneur?

I have the rule of switching off when it is knock off time unless it is urgent. My health and family come first always. These cannot be replaced ever, and it is priceless. I make sure to utilise my working hours to the fullest and have fun in the process.

What motivates you every day?

Despite business and life challenges in general as a young emerging entrepreneur I motivate myself by focusing on the positives and starving my negatives and distractions with limited focus. I however also have a strong business mind-set that I have developed within myself which is knowing that amidst the occasional business frustrations that may occur due to some business related challenges, there are also endless possibilities of hope and joys that may come from business success.

What is your vision in business?

To assist in sustaining and protecting our environment for generations to come.

What is your mission?

To deliver quality services
To be solution partner in environmental relations

What are your values in your business?

My business values are primarily based on value for money, respect and accountability. I believe that these are to be at the core of any business.

How do you define success in business?

Success for me is accomplishing business tasks on time through good-disciplined habits practiced repeatedly over time. I believe that repeated habits coupled with discipline always brings results.

Do you believe that entrepreneurs are born or made and why?

Beyond reasonable doubt, I believe that leaders are born but not made because their innate-born personality types shape their perspectives and thinking in the business world. Hence with the business market constancy evolving such leaders can use their born vision and leadership styles to adapt to such market change.

What is your favourite thing you like about being an entrepreneur?

My favourite thing about being an entrepreneur is expanding my base of connections through networking. Since I am small business owner and new to the industry I use myself as the best marketing tool to do business and connect with people I admire through reaching out to them by inviting them for business meetings.

What has been your greatest achievement in business?

Since I am still relatively new, I can say the fact that everything is falling into place and where I am now with my business. God has blessed me coming this far already.

Could you please give us links to your business?

These are work in progress.

Are you an enterpreneur in Kathu who wants to be interviewed? Get in touch