Thuma Mina Express which was established by Thabang Dlamini and his five friends from high school namely: Bonginkosi Dlamini, Thabiso Ndhlozi, Bonginkosi Msibi, Sipho Ngcobo and Africa Ndlovu.It’s a delivering company currently located in Tsakane which ensures that the lives of East Rand residents are easier.“We started this business because we saw how the senior citizens around the location could not run their errands due to work reasons and other reasons. Some of the citizens are old so since we are unemployed, we thought it would be a good initiative to help our elders get their products delivered from point A to B and we also created employment for ourselves,” said Thabang, one of the founding members of the company.
He also added by saying that they are currently six members on board, but soon they will add ten more workers. “We are going to expand to sixteen members by March. We want to divide the sixteen workers and place ourselves in different parts of Kwatsaduza; so right now we are definitely looking forward to help our future workers get their licences to drive the motorbikes, however, in the meantime while they do not have licences they will be provided with bicycles”, says Thabang.The other members of the company also added by saying that, it’s been pleasant working with the people of Kwatsaduza but like every other business, they come across challenges too. “Older people don’t know much about social media, so it becomes a problem, interacting with them at some point. We also have problems with the weather. We use motorbikes so on rainy and thundering days it becomes a problem because we cannot deliver and you find that in most instances, our orders pile up,” adds Ndhlozi.
Although the company seems to be doing well, the corona virus still puts the company on standstill as some products that have been banned, cannot be delivered anymore.” We were one of the companies that could work under covid-19 restrictions, but since permits are not allowed anymore we are hindered as we have to wait the long queues and that takes more of our time”, says Msibi.The Thuma Mina Express associates also added by saying that they would like to see their company grow in good time. They further elaborated by saying that their goals include being one of South Africa’s biggest logistics company and owning warehouses or storages around the country. “We currently have a parcel counter tent by Tsakane mall; we will open satellite stores at Duduza and Kwa-Thema when we employ more people as stated this coming March.
At this point, people who come from the mall drop off their parcels here and we have them delivered, so in a few years from now, we would like these satellite stores to be warehouses,” said the founder, Thabang Dlamini.
