Centre helps Mokwena’s flowers blossom
DIBUSENG Mokwena’s floral business has flourished to new heights thanks to the assistance of a Soweto Opportunity Centre.
The 31-year-old Orlando East entrepreneur is now looking forward to opening a floral shop in the Baragwanath Hospital Precinct in Diepkloof, Soweto. Mokwena is operating her flower business, The Flower Box Blossom, out of a room in her family home.
Mokwena sought advice from the Atlehang Opportunity Centre at the Soweto Empowerment Zone in Diepkloof in early April, after a post about Opportunity Centres was shared on Twitter by Economic Development MMC Nkululeko Mbundu.
The city’s nine Opportunity Centres are laid out across all quadrants of the metro, designed to assist small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) develop a long-term viability strategy through a series of training courses like business planning and supply chain management. They also offer pre-start, start-up, and existing businesses advice on the importance of adequate planning.
Mokwena received training on how to make her business sustainable for the next six to 12 months.
“I wouldn’t have known how to sustain the business if I hadn’t gone to the Opportunity Centre,” she says.
She founded The Flower Box Blossom in 2015 after the passing of her uncle. Their family didn’t have a florist at the funeral, so she took it upon herself to arrange the flowers. Since then, she has never looked back.
Mokwena’s flowers are perfect for any occasion or event, and she has added pamper baskets. It takes her 20 minutes to arrange a flower basket.
Asked what motivates and inspires her, she says: “My boys. They motivate me to be a better mom and an entrepreneur and to work hard.”
Mokwena encourages other small business owners to approach the city’s opportunity centres. “Opportunities are there, sometimes you have to go out and reach for them,” she says.
The Flower Box Blossom is on Facebook (TheFlowerBoxJHB) and Twitter (@theflowerbox_jhb).
Residents can locate Opportunity Centres in each region of the metro:
Khoebo Opportunity Centre in
Joburg, 1st floor, 66 Jorissen Street, Jorissen Place, Braamfontein.
Isiqalo Opportunity Centre in Roodepoort, 4th floor, Roodepoort Civic Centre.
Tlhabologo Opportunity Centre in Diepsloot, 1131 Ingonyama Street.
Thusanang Opportunity Centre at the Klipfontein View Multipurpose Centre
Ikamvalethu Opportunity Centre, Alexandra Multipurpose Centre
Atlehang Opportunity Centre in Diepkloof, Soweto Empowerment Zone.
Simunye Opportunity Centre at Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre.
Joburg Market Opportunity Centre, 4 Fortune Street, City Deep.
Eldo’s Opportunity Centre, 4064 Link Road, Eldorado Park.