POWER COUPLE
finding innovative ways to produce a product, render a service or sell, key word is innovation to remain competitive. Equity, I am convinced that every single enterprise rises and falls depending on its ability to raise and keep equity. In SA, it is not the ideas we lack, but money to implement ideas. Find innovative ways to raise equity. Increased sales is one way of raising equity, but scaling up, one usually needs a little more. Managing Cost, everything else that happens outside the spectrum of( Innovation and Equity), is a cost. Every time you don’ t manage / optimise cost, there isn’ t enough innovation and equity that can keep one in business.
Please provide a brief summary of your business( including how long it has existed, what it does, etc.)
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Muma architecture, construction and property development started in 2006, as a design and home building company. We used our architectural skills to entice clients to give us construction contracts for their home building, by offering free architectural services. We grew in competence and formed a property development arm in 2007 by partnering with CorpMD consulting to form CoMu properties. Then I resigned in 2010 to form an inherent property development arm called Muma Property Investments, which is in line with our long term vision of building the brand Muma, bringing with it an equity partner, Mr. Contrast Nemvumoni. Today, Muma is part of a Be-more group of companies which offers a closely linked compendium of services including the following: Architectural design and consulting; Construction, mainly home building; Property development consulting, including:
feasibility studies and development funding applications Project Management Property development Property management, which is
headed by my wife Portia
� Cleaning and security services, which is headed by one of our oldest employees, Mpho Munyai( focusing only on our own developments at the moments); and a
� Structural and civil engineering through a sister company, headed by Contrast.
As Muma, we are able to inherently procure, package and develop a property development opportunity only short of a quantity surveyor within the built environment.
What has been the greatest highlight or achievement to date of your business? We could not have asked for a better way to celebrate 10 years of excellence than to get recognition through the following awards: Winner of the“ Best Improved Client” 2016 by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlement( GDoH) and the Gauteng Partnership Fund( GPF), 1 st runner up for the“ Tshwane Business Awards” 2015.
Share with us a low point in your business or mistakes that had an impact on your business and what did you learn from them?
September 2016
In 2012, my wife and I decided to build our home and hoped to still be able to continue doing business. We found ourselves too far stretched for cash to the point where we were stuck. That experience brought us together as a couple, making decisions together, praying more together and stretching us to new levels of tolerance and humility that we did not know existed in us. The greatest lesson was how all we have is each other in Christ first because; people will disappoint you at crucial life changing experiences.
POWER COUPLE
When and where did you meet?
We met for the first time on the 15 th of March 2009 at a church where we both used to fellowship.
How did you know that she is the one?
Wife: If there is anything like love at first sight, we believe we experienced it. We had a small basic talk, where we both left a mark in each other’ s hearts and the rest is history. Husband: After a brief chat, I told my friends“ you see that girl, that’ s my future wife” pointing at Portia as she was walking away, they both laughed with that“ show us what you have Dandy and stop talking”. Our readiness to engage in a life-time commitment also played a big role in getting us together.
How do you balance business and family?
With both our schedules very busy, we had to make a conscious decision to make time for our family. When we are at home, we try to cut down on things like TV and social media so that we can have personal time with the kids and each other. We also follow a routine in the house, so the kids know that 8:30pm is sleeping time, and then we can also have some quite time to reflect on the day.