Rirhandzu Ngobeni
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Age:
53
Project Name/Description:
Rirhandzu Ngobeni is in a constant state of reinvention. At 53 years old, the Roodepoort entrepreneur has been everything from a teacher and deputy principal to a butchery owner, chef, and restaurateur, and runs a highly successful building maintenance entity. She is the founder and group CEO of Integrico Facilities Management, Mndhavazi Canteens & Catering, RnB Culinary School, RnB Boutique Guest House, and OBC Vosloorous. All these entities were established when she decided to give up her comfortable government teaching job and branch out into entrepreneurship. Her businesses now feed and serve thousands of white-collar workers each day and provide work opportunities to hundreds more. And Rirhandzu says it all started with MTN, when she scored a coveted contract. “I received an opportunity through MTN South Africa to provide catering and canteen management services. It allowed us to showcase our expertise, expand our operations, and strengthen our reputation as a reliable service provider. It was a significant opportunity,” she says. “It also gave us valuable work exposure, access to professional networks, and the credibility that comes with partnering with a leading organisation. The partnership also provided a platform to demonstrate our capabilities, strengthen our operational capacity, create employment opportunities, and gain experience in meeting the high standards required by a large corporate environment.” Landing the MTN contract was like lighting a match to Rirhandzu’s ambition, who was then unstoppable. “Partnering with MTN validated our capabilities and accelerated our growth. We expanded our footprint, created more jobs, and established ourselves as a trusted service provider,” she says. The biggest problem was then managing the growth, but Rirhandzu believes in living your life in a constant state of anticipation for success to happen. “Stay focused, and be prepared to deliver with excellence when opportunities arise. Most importantly, believe in yourself and your vision, because perseverance and consistency open doors that once seemed impossible,” she says.
