Ms Lerato Malatji is the founder and Managing Director of Moyele Trading, a company that provides laundry services. She took some time off from her gruelling schedule to chat to us and give us a glimpse of her personal journey from Phalaborwa in Limpopo, to the buzz of Tshwane. As we would find out, for her, life is to be taken "by the horns". While she admits that her path has not been easy and smooth, and that there were many mistakes and tears shed in the process, but she is quick to clarify that she would not have it any other way. Lerato says she has grown from her experiences and the many lessons learnt from the "school of hard knocks" and that most importantly she stuck it out because it has all been fantastically exciting for her.

Inspired by her mom, Lerato picked up a "can do" mentality from a young age and an attitude of taking on big challenges even when there was no clear path to success. This fearless mind-set has been a guiding principle that propelled her forward in, what are sometimes, unexpected directions. Nine years ago, she quit a secure job in banking to establish her laundry service with little else but two washers, a dryer and resolute determination to succeed no matter the odds. It has since grown over the years, but at times also receded, and currently operates four Laundromats in Gauteng and Limpopo.

Despite enumerable challenges along the way, Lerato holds steadfast on to her vision of providing corporate hygiene and laundry services to diverse industries ranging from hotels, to mines, hospitals and the military. Moyele started servicing Barloworld Equipment in 2019 when she secured a contract to provide laundry services for leaners at Isando Learning Academy in Ekurhuleni. After securing the opportunity, she then set on putting together the resources to deliver the service. She approached Barloworld Siyakhula and was provided with funding for working capital and equipment.

Humble but self-assured, Lerato is constantly evolving herself and her company. To aspiring Entrepreneurs, she offered these words of encouragement: "Believe in yourself, you can achieve anything you put your mind to".

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