How Tshego Molefi and Ofentse Melato-Dube Built Moli & Mela Group into a Waste Management Powerhouse
How Tshego Molefi and Ofentse Melato-Dube Built Moli & Mela Group into a Waste Management Powerhouse. When lifelong friends Tshego Molefi and Ofentse Melato-Dube took the leap into entrepreneurship, they faced a familiar script: corporate burnout, grand ideas, and limited capital. Yet, their destination was far from ordinary. Imbued with courage and community spirit, they founded Moli & Mela Group, a fully black- and female-owned waste management company in South Africa. Their journey, from humble beginnings to managing waste responsibly at flagship venues, offers powerful lessons in resilience, purpose and entrepreneurship.
From Zero to Landscape Changers
Tshego, a former journalist, and Ofentse, a corporate administrator, launched their first venture as a cleaning services company. That idea sputtered until fate intervened. A frantic call from Sun Village shopping centre forced a pivot, they agreed to step in when the waste contractor suddenly dropped out. That moment changed everything. They registered Moli & Mela in 2017 and embarked on a path few dared to tread.
Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Field
Waste management is often a male-dominated sector. But Tshego and Ofentse saw opportunity in perception. They secured multiple contracts, Sun City Resort being historic as the first Black female-owned waste company to do so and proved their excellence at high-stakes events like the Nedbank Golf Challenge, where they handled waste for nearly 60 000 spectators, deploying 127 staff efficiently within four days.
Milestones That Map Their Ascent
- 2017: Moli & Mela is founded, rooted in opportunity and bold friendship.
- Sun City Contract: A major turning point that added credibility, scale and visibility.
- Nedbank Golf Challenge: Handling mass waste with excellence, boosting reputation.
- Recognition Among 200 Young South Africans: Highlighting their leadership and impact by M&G.
How They Overcame Relentless Hurdles
Without funding, the duo built credibility through action, not gloss. They sought out workshops, certifications, and partnered with industry bodies like PETCO and IWMSA to master compliance and operations. They started with little experience, but plenty of resolve, and grew through learning, adapting and delivering.
Strategic Lessons from Their Journey
- Lead with empathy and friendship
A shared history builds trust. Tshego and Ofentse’s bond carried them through early setbacks with resilience. - Be ready to pivot fast
Their leap from cleaning services to waste management was not planned but it worked because they said yes to an urgent need. - Earn confidence with delivery
The Sun City and Nedbank contracts gave them validation that no pitch deck ever could. - Invest in knowledge, even when budgets are tight
Deep learning about certification and compliance reduced risk and opened doors. - Scale socially and operationally
Their goal is a recycling plant that will create hundreds of jobs and reshape how their community handles waste. - Visibility is earned by impact
Recognition from M&G and industry players followed their performance, not the other way around.
What’s Ahead for Moli & Mela Group
Moli & Mela is not stopping at waste collection. Plans are underway for a commercial recycling facility in the Northwest Province that will employ over 200 people and produce reusable products. Their dual focus on strategic growth and socioeconomic uplift demonstrates that business can and should, carry purpose.
The Last Scoop
Tshego Molefi and Ofentse Melato-Dube remind us that entrepreneurship thrives at the intersection of grit, friendship and purpose. By starting small, responding to urgent needs, building credibility through delivery, and investing in training and team, they transformed discarded waste into opportunity and social impact. Their story challenges entrepreneurs to dream boldly but act boldly too. The lesson is simple: if you start where you are, with what you have and keep delivering, you will rise.
