Driven by a desire to tackle local water scarcity and build a community-centred enterprise, 20-year-old entrepreneur Phomello Maluleke’s water purification company TJP Aquifer, provides clean, affordable drinking water to Hammanskraal residents.
“Water is more than just a product to sell—it affects people’s health, dignity, and everyday lives. I wanted to be part of a solution rather than simply complain about the problem,” Maluleke said about the company she founded in September 2024.
Operating in Hammanskraal, TJP Aquifer provides purified drinking water to local households, businesses, and events. The company sells bottled water in various sizes and offers refill services at R1 per litre, alongside custom-branded bottled water for corporate and social functions. The dual-purpose model balances commercial viability with community benefit.
Navigating the enterprise has given Maluleke practical experience in the financial and operational realities of running a business. Securing equipment, storage tanks, pumps, electricity, and required water testing certifications presented steep initial cost barriers. Additionally, building customer credibility and developing effective marketing strategies required continuous adaptation.
Despite these hurdles, Maluleke views the experience as foundational to her personal and professional development.
“The business has taught me a lot about responsibility, money, entrepreneurship, patience, and consistency,” she noted. “It showed me that you don’t have to wait for someone to give you an opportunity; you can start creating one yourself.”
Looking ahead, Maluleke plans to scale operations, expand her customer base, and create stable job opportunities for local youth.
“My goal is not just to make TJP Aquifer successful, but to make it meaningful,” she said. “I want this business to be remembered for the lives it touched, not only for the money it made. I want to reach more people who struggle with access to clean water, create employment opportunities, and give young people in my community hope that they can build something of their own.”
