Former beauty queen, actor and TV personality brings internet to Soweto

The ability to see newness in the familiar in conjunction with the ability to see opportunities where others don’t is the first reason why the self-made businessman, Malope Mojapelo and his wife former beauty queen, actor and TV personality, Michelle Molatlou started an internet café in Soweto.

Situated next to The Rock, one of Soweto’s nightspots, Cyberock Internet Café is beginning to boom. This is the first business of its kind Rockville and Soweto in general. Although in its infancy the business is growing as Mojapelo says there has been 26% revenue growth week-on-week since opening in March this year. “The business has achieved a 65% growth in market share and beginning to gain popularity,” says Mojapelo.

Asked how did the idea of opening an internet café in Soweto come, Mojapelo said: “It is the need. I used to live in Randburg and was so much used to the cyber kind of lifestyle and on my return to Soweto I realised that there was no ‘business communication centre’ one could go to. I felt a bit frustrated by the non-existence of the resources and thought that I should do something about it.”

Being a business-oriented person that he is Mojapelo saw an opportunity for business by opening an internet café for the people of Rockville. He then researched this idea of starting an internet café and found it viable at the current location. There are four other business sites secured to open more cafés in Soweto. With IT experience it was easy for him, as he knew exactly what to do. In addition, the start-up costs were low as the only things you need get started are the computers and the internet connection line. As a result there was no need for him to go and borrow money. He used what he had saved over years.

Asked about the challenges he faces running such a business he said: “Soweto does not have any accessible IT support systems, one always has to call providers from out of Soweto and this slows down the business as one has to wait for longer in case systems are down.” According to Mojapelo internet access is very popular during peak hours. He says procurement is not always easy from Soweto since there aren’t any visible computer consumables vendors.

Although business seems to be booming, there is still a long way to go since most of our clients are new to the internet  “However, reception by the community has been well and the number of people visiting the shop is increasing.” He attributes this to the fact that the shop is located in the right spot. Located next to The Rock, one of Soweto’s nightclubs and not also far away from Thokoza Park, which is one of Soweto’s landmarks. Cyberock is accessible to people from different Living Standard Measures (LSMs). People who usually visit The Rock and also hang out at Thokoza Park are mainly between LMS 6 and 10 and therefore are familiar with the usage of internet and email and conduct most of their business on the road. This has become their office whilst entertaining themselves next door.

Mojapelo has hopes that the visit or internet usage at Cyberock will increase as the shop gains popularity. Mojapelo’s entrepreneurial skills are visible in the way in which he positioned his business. His choice of location was also strategic as the shop is located in the vicinity of Mandla Hair Salon, a well-known Soweto hair stylist. Many celebrities frequent this salon and the place is very popular. Also proximal to the Cyberock is Panyaza’s Butchery, a place where most people from around Gauteng go to buy and braai.

To accommodate his patrons Mojapelo opens the shop 7 days a week. From 07:00 to 19:00 from Sunday to Thursday and from 07:00 to 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Services that the shop provides include internet (which is the core business of Cyberock), offsite office, corporate stationery, cellphone consumables and document printing, photocopying, binding and laminating. Another interesting thing about Mojapelo’s entrepreneurial skills is that he is also investing back to the community that is supporting him. His corporate social investment includes preparing and printing free of charge burial programmes for the surrounding community.

Location stats

• Next to The Rock – a famous night spot in the whole of Soweto.
• Next to Thokoza park – A long standing Sowetan land mark
• Next to Mandla Hair Salon – A renowned hair stylist in Soweto – Used to do celebrity hair
• Next to Panyaza Butchery – a famous braai area in Soweto

Mojapelo’s progress to date

• Growth 26% week on week revenue wise
• 65% growth in market share so far – popularity growing
• Visibility improving.
• There aren’t many internet cafés in Soweto
• Mojapelo plans 4 more sites in Soweto with one opening soon – June 2007