By Neo Kolane
A professional teacher Moora Khanyetsi tapped into the opportunity presented by the availability of reed in Lesotho, which he ended up using to build his business Lehlaka Products Company.
His business is not yet registered, but already Khanyetsi’s Lehlaka Products Company makes washing baskets, drawers, tables, chairs using reed and planks.
He recounted that it all started five years ago in Roma Ha Scout when he saw similar reed products displayed by a producer by the roadside.
His interaction with the man revealed that the latter face the challenge of capital shortfall, like any other starting business.
The two had a conversation and he invested with M10 000 to buy machinery; circular saw and a drilling machine.
“With the money I invested, my main objective was to grasp and learn more; I was not more into profit making by then, but I foresaw that is very important and that a person can make a living out of it.
“I bought material, he had the skills. I worked with him. We agreed to share whatever productions we had 50/50. I spent the next two months worked with him and learning. This happened during the winter holidays,” Khanyetsi said.
When schools reopened he worked during the weekends at a workshop at Mangopeng village in Roma.
He did not work full-time due to schools reopening, but the family man told theReporter that with the passion he had and potential he saw, he ended up sourcing funds.
The fund proved to be just wat the doctor ordered as the business then boomed to a point where exporting became a realistic and achievable goal.
The rest, he said, was history.
Khanyetsi now works alone and he has learnt that every minute people get hooked to his products.
He said the reason is that his product is unique, based on just the mix of reed and plank.
“I work alone now; I have learnt that every minutes, people can become hooked to the product.
“People do not take reed seriously, and do not know its importance. It is durable and helps with ventilation,” he revealed.
He revealed that he travels as far as QwaQwa in South Africa to source reed for free, or buy it from anyone who has it in the country; in all his travelling he is kept company by his machinery.
He described reed as an untapped natural resource which is commonly used for commercial purposes.
One washing basket costs M550.
He boasted that his target market is anyone with the buying power.
Moora Khanyetsi can be contacted on (+266) 5036 8160
