Beating unemployment through business

Bhovabami Projects Director, Mmeleli Zwane

Mmeleli Zwane grew up in Kwadela Township, outside Hendrina in Mpumalanga, just a few kilometres from Gugulethu Colliery. In 2024, Mmeleli, who owns a startup, was offered a contract to provide cleaning and maintenance services at the mine. This was a breakthrough for his company.

Mmeleli founded his company, Bhovabami Projects, almost five years ago after graduating with a Public Management and Governance degree from the University of Johannesburg. Coming back home from university, Mmeleli found securing a job harder than he had anticipated. Growing up, Mmeleli helped his parents with stocktaking and buying items from the wholesalers for their spaza shop. Given his background, Mmeleli decided to start a business. 

“Even though there were no job opportunities, I decided to start a business,” says Mmeleli.  At the time, he only had R200, borrowed from his mother’s savings to register a company. After that, he got a short contract to erect fencing and provide grass cutting services at another local mine in the area. 

For Mmeleli, working with Canyon Coal has provided exposure and assisted him in stabilising his business. Bhovabami employs 12 people from the local community. The team is responsible for cleaning offices, changing rooms around the mine, and grass cutting services. “It is a very good opportunity, and we are steadily growing with their mine. “It is just a big opportunity for us to create jobs for others,” Mmeleli says.