COMMUNITY RALLIES TO BUILD ROOIBOI’S BUSINESS

Nhlakanipho Mjoli’s eye for opportunity and his keen entrepreneurial spirit has turned his idea to make an honest living and support his family into a thriving business.

The 29-year-old, who has become a well-known, friendly face in Hilton’s business district, is fondly known as Rooiboi - the trusted face behind the bustling Rooiboi’s Mobile Car Wash.

He has made such a name for himself that the Hilton community has banded together to help him get his business on its feet.

Mjoli, from Mpophomeni, came to Hilton as he saw an opportunity for business.

“I came to help the Hilton community. I noticed that Hilton is a busy place – people are always coming and going during the day. I thought, people are too busy to get their cars washed; it would be a good idea to start a mobile car wash in Hilton,” he added.

Mjoli is always on the lookout for new business opportunities. His first entrepreneurial stint was selling cupcakes outside Life Hospital and at the Crossways robots.

Then one day, he was speaking to someone and shared his vision of starting a car wash. They asked him to wash his car right there.

Mjoli didn’t have any washing materials, except for a cloth he used to clean the cupcake tray, but, being a firm believer in working with what he has, he used the cloth to clean the car, inside and outside. That was the humble beginning of Rooiboi’s Mobile Car Wash.

Since then, the car wash has become a household name in Hilton and he got permission to use the car park behind the Break Room and the Ellen Bird’s car park. However, being mobile, he can go anywhere around Hilton.

“I started telling people, and people started spreading the word, and soon, people started asking me about my services,” he told The Hilton.

“God has brought me to good people. I’ve built good connections with people and customers and I have built the trust of my customers. The people in Hilton have become like my family.”

When Mjoli recently needed legal assistance with the home his late mother had left him, he approached Ilse Dippenaar, owner of Up.Ed.

She put a post out on the Hilton Chat Facebook page appealing for someone to assist him with legal advice and if anyone had a spare phone for his business.

Dippenaar sai: “It was easy to put the post on Facebook because everyone knows Rooiboi and that he can be trusted.

“The response was overwhelming. It was so satisfying to see how Hilton always does what needs to be done.”

Not only did he receive legal assistance and a smart new cellphone, but someone also donated a vacuum cleaner, and Cannon and Cannon Auctioneers donated an Eco Wash machine for his car wash.

The previous owner of PostNet Hilton also organised special branding and a logo for Rooiboi’s Car Wash, and printed face masks with his logo and number on.

He said when he switched his new cellphone on, it was buzzing with business enquiries.

“I feel like the people of Hilton are on my side. Being in Hilton has taught me to love myself and the people around me.

“I’m not working just to make money, but also to help and give back to the Hilton community,” Mjoli said.

Businesses that have been supporting Rooiboi include Crossways, Build It Hilton, Anew Hotel Hilton, Ellen Bird and Fogden Properties.

Mjoli told The Hilton that he has a vision to have multiple businesses, including a cleaning company, a service to assist the elderly by running errands for them, and a farm to grow vegetables from scratch and assist with food sustainability.

“I want to say thank you very much to everyone who has supported me. I want to one day be able to help those who have helped me,” he said.

Rooiboi’s Car Wash operates seven days a week in Hilton. He needs the piping to be done on the donated Eco Wash machine for him to be able to use it.

If there is any handyman who is willing to assist with this, please contact him at 078 217 2612 or rooiboi.carwash@gmail.com