Meet Itumeleng Molefe the man with a business mind. Molefe who is well known as Tumi hails from Mabopane Block B and studied workshop Plumbing Level 4 from 2013 to 2014 at Tshwane South TVET College Odi Campus. Today Tumi, a qualified Plumber who specialises in Heat and pump geyser installation boasts a plumbing business, Monakwe Plumbing which has been in a huge success for about 3 years since completing his studies at Odi Campus in 2014. When asked about his formation of his company Tumi elaborated that he saw a need for Small Medium Enterprises and when the opportunity availed itself he saw the need to start up his own company after he saw how College students struggle to get internship upon completing their studies. “This did not sit well with me when I saw how TVET student struggle to get internships just after completing their studies”, said Molefe. The company was formed in 2010 and started out as Triple BO Trading Enterprise. He then registered with Tshwane South TVET College to enhance his practical skills and gain more knowledge on the theory. Then in 2015 it was officially registered as Monakwe Office.
Tumi mentioned that they are now situated in the suburb of Orchards. He now makes business with big companies such as Tawana Business Projects in Sandton (Property Developers) a partnership that goes all the way back to 2012 and FRANK which is situated in Midrand and has been in business with the company from 2016 October to date. He highlights lack of communication, entrusting students with companies’ resources which is huge risk and encountering financial problems when he started the business as some of the challenges he faced in his business.


Tumi aspires to go global in a medium term period. Currently Monakwe employs 5 staff members comprising of the following;

1. One casual (Mpho Kopedi finishing his N6 in Civil Engineering)
2. Three permanent ( Tshepo Monakgeng completed workshop plumbing, Keamohetse Matlala who is a plumber & Innocent Chilwaya who is a plumber)
3. One admin consultant (Thabang Monyaku who completed Management Assistant)

All these employees are from Odi Campus

Tumi says that he will forever be thankful to the contribution made by Tshwane South TVET College Odi Campus in his life and in his business.