Neo Lelaka hails from Mogalakwena in Limpopo, and is the owner of NTT Empire, an SME bio-fertiliser business. Previously in the civil and construction space, Neo’s business idea was first sparked in 2017 when he saw the issue with waste collection in his area, and it not being removed in his community.
“I started exploring ways to manage this waste,” he says, “and I noticed that after it was sorted for recycling, there was still a great deal of bio-digestible waste left over.” He started researching biomass and how it could be repurposed, and discovered that the methane it produced could be harnessed for renewable energy.
When the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns happened, the work in civil and construction stopped, and that gave Lelaka time to explore the idea further. That is when he realised that he would need a bigger space and increased capacity to produce biofuel from methane.
“My focus was to raise funds for my new business venture, but I realised that I lacked a lot of knowledge and information regarding how to market, compliance, and how to run a business overall.”
Fortunately, in 2022, a friend told him to pitch his idea to Anglo American’s Enterprise and Supplier development arm, Zimele. This ESD programme was established in 1989 to develop emerging black businesses, empower entrepreneurs and support SMMEs to make a difference in their communities. It focuses on mentorship to ensure entrepreneurs have the right business acumen, financial literacy, etc. followed by loan funding.
Over 18 months, Lelaka not only received business training, coaching and mentoring, but was assisted with compliance processes and exposed to procurement opportunities in the area, among other interventions.
“My business mentor advised that I start small and use what I have. That led me to try out the production of bio-fertilisers.”
Lelaka’s problem-solving skills, attained from his previous work in civils and construction, were put to good use when he realised it was more realistic and more doable to produce fertiliser from the biomass. “It’s liquid gold,” he says. “It’s environmentally friendly and a great soil additive, putting the balance back into the soil. And the microbial content feeds on pests.”
Today, NTT Empire supplies homeowners, nurseries, farmers and companies with gardens or that operate in the space. Their bio-fertiliser is a 3-in1 microbial blend that is used as a soil preparation agent to maximise farming results, organic fertiliser and natural pesticide. They also offer cleaning, gardening and horticulture services.
NTT Empire currently employs 12 people, and Lelaka has also trained interns from the Youth Employment Service (YES).He attributes his success to a combination of his own grit and hard work, and the stellar support he received from Zimele.
Lelaka’s future plans include expanding his business to use waste to produce methane, developing a biodiesel plant, and supplying and maintaining spekboom plants to businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint, because they are carbon sponges and will absorb greenhouse gases collecting.
“Sorting the waste gives me chances to explore different avenues,” says Lelaka. “We see a lot of opportunities in producing cooking oil, so I am exploring that option and hoping to develop that in the next five years. We also collect a lot of cow dung, which is a major producer of greenhouse gases.”
SMEs are often hailed as the backbone of a healthy economy: driving growth, providing employment opportunities and opening new markets. But the challenges of the fledgling entrepreneur are significant, especially in South Africa where many people not only don’t have the funding to start their businesses, but crucially, also don’t have the business knowledge and social capital required. ESD Programmes like Zimele aim to close this gap.
Lelaka’s advice for other young entrepreneurs is simply to start small. “Speed and scale don’t matter; direction is more important,” he says. “And strive for ownership. The fact that my name is on my bio-fertilisers means I must make sure they are up to standard. Use what you have, and make sure your business is well-run. Chase excellence – it speaks for itself. That’s how the big brands make it.”
