Five years ago, cousins Fani Nkuna and Thereso Ncha started their company, Xihontlovila Services, mowing lawns and rendering garden services. From its humble beginnings, it has now become a local household name.
The cousins were only 26 and 21 years old when they started with equipment they borrowed. Although they initially wanted to deliver their service to the community of Nkowankowa, they soon realised that they needed to move their services to Tzaneen town.
Months later they bagged a contract with a retirement village and the working relationship still exists to date. Nkuna says he worked in a corporate job in Johannesburg before he returned home, but nothing compares to working in his hometown.
“In a corporate environment, it is not always possible to see the impact you are making. Having your own business, you can see the impact on the people you are employing,” says Nkuna.
“Some of our workers are people who did not study further and would normally not get employed, but we have afforded them an opportunity to provide food on the table.” The duo now also offers landscaping and cleaning services. Currently, they have eight full-time and five temporary employees.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the business was able to survive through their contracts, Nkuna says. Follow Xihontlovila Services on its Facebook page for more information.
This article was first published in Lethaba Herald
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Fani Nkuna is a participant on the SAB Foundation’s Tholoana Enterprise Programme, an 18-month business accelerator powered by Fetola which supports the lasting success of businesses from across South Africa, particularly those owned by women, youth and people living with disabilities, and those in township and rural areas.
