A local engineer’s participation in Anglo American’s Entrepreneur Internship Programme (EIP) has bolstered his capacity to create an enterprise that will become sustainable well into the future, and potentially add long term value to the Witbank community. Forty-five year old Mkhokheli (Kox) Mlilo previously worked for Anglo American’s Thermal Coal business as an engineer for 16 years, before resigning to join the EIP, having achieved the distinction of being one of five entrepreneurs successfully selected out of 364 applicants. He started the programme in March 2012, and graduated in March 2013.

The EIP provides a stepping stone for entrepreneurs who are interested in developing or growing a business, but do not have access to the requisite skills, industry knowledge, business networks or support. Following his graduation, Mlilo was able to establish Witbank based Sakhizwe Engineering in 2012. The company, which is involved in engineering maintenance, fabrication and repairs, and is registered as a vendor with Anglo American’s Thermal Coal business, has also been able to employ eight permanent and 13 part-time employees. He notes that the programme taught him core business skills which will ultimately help him bolster the prosperity of his enterprise.

“The main lessons I learned during the course of the EIP were how to create a business of value, how to work on my business and not in my business, and that a business must run on a system that is independent of individuals. Through implementing these principles, I intend to ensure that the business continues to grow solidly, becomes a renowned and recognised brand, and develops into an organisation of worth.” Mlilo was selected  into the EIP after completing an entrepreneurial aptitude assessment and submitting a proposal for his business. During the course of the programme, he had the opportunity to meet various people that are part of Anglo American’s management and its supply chain, as well as a number of people in different business units within the company.

The engagements involved discussions on his business proposals, as well as the envisaged benefits to their organisations. He also attended training sessions at business incubator company, Aurick that equipped him with the methods of setting up a system that caters towards the different aspects of a business. Anglo American provided Mlilo with a stipend throughout the course of the programme which allowed him to hire an assistant from the onset, thereby freeing him up to increase focus on developing and growing the business.

Godfrey Gomwe CEO of Anglo American’s Thermal Coal business, who was instrumental in the development of the EIP, concludes that Mlilo’s achievements reflect that the EIP is making an intended impact. “The primary objective of the EIP is to ensure that an entrepreneur with high levels of potential have a solid foundation to run a successful business that leads to strong growth opportunities, and ancillary benefits for the local communities in which the enterprise is based. “The impressive fortitude and insight Kox has demonstrated in establishing his business indicates that the programme has been successful in terms of fulfilling these original goals, and I am confident that he will go from strength to strength in growing his enterprise, and adding real value to the local Witbank community.”