When Mpho Phuku’s family experienced four break-ins, she decided that enough was enough. After calling a company that installed her security system, Phuku saw this as an opportunity to give residents in her township peace of mind knowing that they were safe. Phuku now owns The Lioness Security Services and Lioness Lock and Key.
“I live in Mapetla, Soweto, an area where break-ins are the norm,” she said. “The joy of seeing a customer’s face after realising that their homes will be safer is the cherry on top of providing security to these homes.” Phuku established her security business in 2017 and her other company in 2021. She provides locksmith services to the entire Soweto region, while The Lioness Security Services installs electrical fences, security cameras and other security systems throughout Gauteng and parts of the North West.
Lioness Lock and Key employ one person, while her security company hires temporary staffers according to the size of the contract received. “I have always been an entrepreneur… in the past I registered a business, but didn’t go through with it, opting to go back to having a regular job,” she said. “I worked as a business developer and when I saw that I had the ability to bring clients I decided to do things on my own and be my own boss. This is my biggest achievement – leaving a full-time job for a business knowing that my business can take care of itself and pay my salary and those of others.”
Phuku said she relished challenges. “I love working with my hands and I feel like I need a challenge and business brings me that feeling, accompanied with the rewarding feeling of completing an installation job,” she remarked.
She also advised those wanting to start a business to overcome any fear and go for it. “Whatever challenges you face, face then head on and look outside of the box for solutions,” the businesswoman advised. “I have failed in the past many times before getting into this business, and even though I failed in the past at being an entrepreneur I kept going back, which proved.
