Today, the business is growing rapidly – offering additional services including drying and packaging of laundry items including linen, curtains, blankets and sneakers at affordable prices with extended hours from Monday to Saturday. This potential has been unlocked through a grant fund amount of R222 316, 03 from the National Development Agency (NDA) – a national poverty eradication agency of government that seeks to support, financially and non-financially, youth and vulnerable groups that have operational enterprises that demonstrate ability to create additional jobs, contribute towards skills development   and sustainable livelihoods.

Through the funding, MaRocks   Laundry Services   acquired an additional container to expand operational space, four commercial washing machines, 2500 litre Jojo Tank, 7,5kva generator, two industrial steam irons, weighing scale, steam press machine, folding table, square table as well as office and administration equipment including laptop, printer and front desk furniture.

“We are now a fully-fledged, competent and competitive laundromat since acquiring the machinery and equipment from the NDA funding. Even during loadshedding, we can offer our services because as we have a generator, the consistency of water supply through the tanks also makes business continuity a breeze for us. Our production capacity has doubled and we are beginning to make a profit whilst still maintaining income for the four members. We have trained two other people who come in to assist when we have many big orders. Soon we will offer delivery services and that will allow another job opportunity for someone,” says Tsholofelo Moeng, one of the Managing Directors.

Currently, MaRocks Laundry Services provides services to households within their immediate and surrounding location. Moeng says now that they are at this level, they intend to target surrounding hospitality providers, local hospitals and other businesses to offer their services. “The challenges of meeting the demand have been resolved, previously our two machines could not cope with the workload and our turnaround took longer. Our client base has grown substantially to include nurses, police, teachers and other professionals that reside here for work deployment purposes. We have a quicker turnaround time now and deliver same day services to our clients.”

“We saw it fit to offer this group of young people support to expand their existing operations – they are centrally located within a business site offered by the Municipality in Tshing and have a unique offering as no one else is providing the service in that locality. Moreover, they have the business acumen that demonstrated growth and expansion. NDA has assisted to close gaps that set back the business, including production capacity, constant power, water supplies and interruptions which were challenged in the past, says Mr Potlako Ntlatleng, NDA Provincial Manager in North-West. 

Maletsatsi Sebetlele is a regular client and resident of Tshing. “I bring my jackets here because I am happy with their friendly and efficient service. It helps that I just walk her to access their services”.