By: Tebogo Mokwena
Rofhiwa Netshivhilidulu was driven by his zeal for serving people and maintaining good healthy standards to start his cleaning company, Muwanei Cleaning Services. After working in the cleaning sector for over a decade, he decided it was time to make a clean break from being an employee to working for himself. Netshivhilidulu’s business is in Tshiawelo, Soweto, and was founded in 2019.
It provides cleaning services to areas such as Johannesburg, Soweto and Roodepoort. The clients include schools, households, public facilities and the private sector. Speaking to Vutivi News, Netshivhilidulu said that part of what drove him every day was to find solutions and protect the well-being of his clients. “I am passionate about making sure that their facilities receive the utmost and detailed cleaning,” he said. “My experience in the cleaning sector has given me the privilege to work with different chemicals and products that we use for our cleaning tasks.”
Netshivhilidulu said while he did not have permanent employees, he employed contract workers when he got work. He also said that running a business in the cleaning sector was extremely difficult as there was a lot of competition, and the rise of small businesses kept him on his toes. He cited finances, marketing and administration as some of his key challenges. “I had to save for 10 years before I started my business, so I did not receive any funding,” he said. “I also feel like although I am doing my own administration, I am not skilled enough to do it in an efficient manner irrespective of the experience and the knowledge that I have in the sector.
“Getting clients is also difficult, but I work hard each day to make sure that my company is recognised and that I get clients at the end of the day,” Netshivhilidulu said that despite the challenges, he was not giving up. “One of my biggest achievements is servicing reputable institutions and public facilities,” he said. “These make me feel like my work is being recognised.” Netshivhilidulu said that he hoped to employ at least 10 people over the next few years.
“I also want to focus on other sectors like health institutions and malls,” he said. “My research has shown that shopping malls tend to rely on their employees to clean windows, so I believe that this can be a great opportunity for my business.”
