When young Lethaha Madima joined Anglo American’s ICT learnership programme in 2022, he was already an entrepreneur with a vision. Having founded MJF Investments in 2021, he saw the programme as an opportunity to enhance his business acumen and technical skills – a decision that would transform not only his future, but also the lives of others in his community in Musina, Limpopo.
Madima, who was part of the programme’s first cohort in 2022/2023, quickly put his newly acquired skills to work. The programme equipped him with valuable technical knowledge in programming, database management and system administration – skills he now applies to optimise his business operations and client services.
While still in the programme, he identified a crucial need in his community and established a free mathematics tutoring service, reaching students across 13 local schools, including both public and private institutions such as Musina Primary and Gateway High School. He even returned to his former high school – this time as a tutor rather than a student, a memory he will treasure forever.
“Going from being a scholar to becoming a tutor at my old school was one of my proudest moments,” says Madima. “The ICT learnership programme taught me more than just technical skills – it showed me how to identify gaps in the community and develop business solutions to address them.”
His entrepreneurial journey continued to expand. With a long-standing passion for on-site work, he saw opportunities in the construction and solar energy sectors. Following the completion of the learnership programme, he pursued additional accreditation in solar system installation and construction, positioning himself at the intersection of sustainable energy solutions and community development through MJF Investments.
Today, Madima’s business has achieved significant milestones, including the construction of Nando’s Musina, and securing various maintenance contracts. The company provides diverse services, from solar and construction services to physical and cybersecurity solutions, while also offering free business incubation to support other emerging entrepreneurs. “The programme gave me the confidence and skills to transform not just my own situation, but to create opportunities for others as well,” he explains.
Over the past two years, MJF Investments has successfully onboarded 20 new team members across various roles, five of whom are full-time and, 15 of whom are regular part-time workers. “These additions reflect our ongoing commitment to strengthening our workforce and meeting the demands of our growing customer base,” says Lethaha.
His vision for MJF Investments is bold – he aims to transform it into a global leader in the construction sector while maintaining its strong community focus. “The programme was a transformative experience,” Madima reflects. “It equipped me with practical skills and theoretical knowledge essential for the ICT field, giving me the confidence to tackle real-world challenges and pursue my career goals.”
Madima’s success story aligns with Anglo American’s commitment to youth and skills development in their host communities to contribute in addressing unemployment, poverty and inequality. The company’s education programme specifically targets no-fee-paying schools in Quintiles 1–3 across Limpopo, North West and Northern Cape provinces, with the learnership extending post-matric for youth aged 18–23 who show promise in English, Mathematics and Science in their senior schooling years.
“Lethaha’s journey exemplifies our belief that by equipping young people with relevant skills, we can contribute to poverty reduction while creating a more adaptable and productive workforce,” says Peggy Maphanga, Education and Community Skills Manager at Anglo American. “His ability to identify opportunities, create sustainable business solutions and give back to his community perfectly demonstrates the transformative impact we aim to achieve through our youth development initiatives.
“We hope his story will serve as an inspiration to other young entrepreneurs in Limpopo and beyond,” Maphanga continues, “showing how the right combination of opportunity, skills development and determination can lead to meaningful change.”