Limpopo business mogul and philanthropist Morgan Mohlala has launched a foundation that seeks to provide community-based entrepreneurs with opportunities to grow their businesses. 

The lavish launch of the Morgan Mohlala foundation was held at the Meropa Casino & Entertainment World in Polokwane on Friday, May 9, at a ceremony attended by top business people, senior government officials and politicians, and representatives of big corporations. 

Mohlala, a mining company director widely known for changing lives and uplifting communities in the Limpopo province, said the decision to found his non-profit foundation is to continue helping people through a structured body rather than as an individual. 

“We have established the Morgan Mohlala foundation to broaden our work of helping people and through this foundation we are going to empower local entrepreneurs in the form of capital and necessary tools, in order to help them grow their businesses and create more job opportunities in the province. 

“We cannot rely on the government to create jobs for our people, we as the private entity, we also have a responsibility to address the level of unemployment, ” Mohlala said. 

Through his logistics, property and mining business ventures, Mohlala has employed more than 500 people. 

The dexterous businessman owns over 160 trucks that transport chrome mined in Marula mine to various areas in South Africa and as far as Maputo in Mozambique.

In an interview with African Times on the sidelines of the launch, Mohlala said he’s working with community members in his transport and logistics company. 

“Every time when we transport the chrome mineral, there is a share which community members get through Mohlala transport and accomodations,” he said. 

During the launch, the foundation collected close to R3 million in pledges from different business people and guests who attended in support of his initiative. 

Those who were in attendance include musician-turned politician and MK party MP Eric Kobane, affectionately known as Papa Penny, Limpopo MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture Jerry Maseko, SABC Limpopo combo business manager Madikana Matjila, and various media personalities and musicians who later entertained the scores of attendees with stage performances. 

Speaking during the launch, Matjila thanked Mohlala for finding reason and resonance with the Limpopo SABC, especially Thobela FM through their ongoing partnership with the station’s gospel festival. 

“As SABC we thrive on collaborating with businesses that support our people, be it on the ground, or online. To Mr Morgan Mohlala we thank you for having found a reason and resonance with the SABC, particularly Thobela FM. We truly appreciate it, and be rest assured of our support to the Morgan Mohlala foundation,” Matjiala said. 

Amongst the people who have benefitted from the foundation before its launch is Bridget Moropana, a female emerging limpopo poultry farmer, who received a brand new Nissan NP200 bakkie and an amount of R10 000 to help grow her business. 

“The donations from Mr Mohlala handed my business a lifeline and assisted it to grow, through the car donation I am able to conveniently buy chicks and make deliveries to the people, ” Moropana said.  

Other beneficiaries include the Morete family in Sekhukhune, whose dream of owning a sizable home became a reality through the foundation. The family also received a brand new Nissan NP200 bakkie. 

“Before Mr Mohlala could come to assist us in building our dream home, we were struggling together with our kids and never imagined that we could own a house and a car,” the joyful Morete couple said.

Mohlala donated R50,000 each to trio cyclists Gauta Mahlakoane (21), Maxwell Ndou (24), and Karabo Mokoo (22), collectively known as the BMX Gauta Team.

The team of young cyclists recently embarked on an ambitious journey from Burgersfort to Cape Town, covering over 1,700 kilometres, to raise awareness about the bike club with the mission of keeping the youth from drugs and gangsterism. 

The patron of Morgan Mohlala is already having plans for the future. Mohlala said his ambition is to get a mining license, so that he can mine on his own. Moreover, he is looking to expand his logistic and property businesses throughout the African continent. 

“With mining I am unable to make more money because I am using other people’s licenses, meaning we share the proceeds.

“My goal is to acquire my own license and mine for myself and this will allow me to do more for the people,” Mohlala said.