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Management from Shell South Africa handed over a Shell Power-shop to entrepreneur, Bongi Wophula, in Port St Johns, last week.
Channel Excellence manager, Ngqiqo Mahlutshana, said that they had launched the Shell Independent/Workshop and Power Shop programme, which aims at empowering aspiring entrepreneurs by affording them an opportunity to become part of the Shell Lubricants network programme, and grant them a fully-branded mobile container to sell Shell Lubricants.
He then confirmed that they had assisted a lot of people with this programme.
“This programme is for all South Africans, but today we are here in Port St Johns. When someone wants this container, he/she must be a South African, must be over 18. He must also have a place where he will put this container. We then check if that person is business-minded or not when we are assessing them. We want people who will be committed in running this business,” said Mahlutshana.
He confirmed that they started this programme in 2021, and they were looking for both genders, but they were happy that they managed to empower Wophula, a female.
Mahlutshana said that they wish that people can take this opportunity and apply for these containers, because they will help them to change their lives.
He said that they support beneficiaries by giving them training for kind of business and technical support; if the customer wants to know which oil is suitable for their vehicles, the entrepreneur can use an app that is available in the phone that will give them technical knowledge, so that they can know which oil is suitable.
Wophula said that she was still shocked that she had managed to get this container.
She said that it was her first time to be in business, especially business of this nature.
“I am very excited that I have managed to go far; it was not an easy journey, but I thank the management of Shell for granting me this opportunity. I will make sure that I give my customers the best service, especially drivers,” said Wophula.
She encouraged young people to ensure that they grab all the opportunities they can get.
Wophula said that they must stand up and look for help, because the unemployment rate is very high so they must try and follow their dreams.
The chief of the area, Vakele Ndabeni, said that the traditional leaders of that area were very happy to see a young woman like Wophula starting this kind of business.
“We encourage young people to wake up and look at what they can do for their lives that could lift them up,” said Ndabeni.
