By Sizakele Nduli
Bokang Lehloenya’s innovative idea of turning her porridge-making skills into a business has paid off. Her traditional sorghum-based porridge drink called WA RONA “motoho wa sebele” is now stocked in major retailers including three Spar stores in the Free State, Waltloo Meat & Chicken in Virginia, and Roots Butchery in central Welkom in the Free State.
Lehloenya, who started stocking shelves two years ago, told Vutivi News that it all began as an informal business when she started selling to neighbours and friends in Thandanani in Welkom. She said that when people could not stop raving about her porridge, she knew it was time to take the leap and formalise into manufacturing company WA RONA “motoho wa sebele” Food Enterprise. “At home, we frequently made sour soft porridge and whenever we served it to guests, they would suggest that I sell it because it tasted so unique.
That idea stuck with me, and when I was feeling stressed, I thought, ‘Why not buy sorghum and sugar and sell it on the streets to see how people would respond?’ That’s how I got started,” she said. Lehloenya, 26, explained that she started her business with her savings, which she had accumulated while studying towards a National Diploma in Language Practice. She was determined not to use her father’s pension fund.
“What inspired me to start a business was the lack of job opportunities. After graduating from Central University of Technology, I struggled to find a job and fell into depression for some time. Eventually, I told myself that I couldn’t remain in that situation; I had to take control and do something about it, “ she said. The businesswoman said her product was unique because of how it tasted. “Like I said, the taste for WA RONA was hard to master because I emphasised on giving it a natural taste which is nothing compared to lesheleshele (sorghum porridge) mixed with chemicals,” she said.
Lehloenya explained that lesheleshele was unfermented sorghum porridge and it could be chemically altered to enhance flavour or shelf life. Her product was all about preserving a natural, traditional taste. Since the inception of her business in 2021, it has grown in leaps and bounds with the support of government agencies. Lehloenya has also received a number of awards.
The Small Enterprise Development Agency provided her with business and marketing coaching and development training and referred her to the National Youth Development Agency for funding. “My business turnover has increased steadily during the advisory and coaching period, and we received R50,000 grant funding from NYDA,” she said.
Lehloenya was recently recognised at the Free State Women Entrepreneur Awards, where she won Best Agro Processor, and Top Overall Achiever and was named the overall winner. Last year, her business was honoured with the Startup Business of the Year award at the Second National Presidential Awards ceremony. In the same year, the Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs Department donated a bakkie to the business so that it could meet the quantity demands required by retailers.
Lehloenya has five employees – three are permanent and two are temporary. Looking ahead, her biggest goal is to supply Checkers stores nationwide. She is also currently working on obtaining a Global Food Safety Initiative certificate, which is key to expanding her business and reaching a broader market.
