Victory Hall was brimming with conciliation. There was a wave of laughter across the hall. During the wave, I got to apprentice the comely bedizenment of the venue. The band on the stage with sponsor banners flying added a flounce to the ornamentation. I was instantly assured that there was no other place to be in the country at that time as entrepreneurship enthusiasts.
My thoughts were brought back to reality by Stephen Monyamane’s grand entrance. Among his opening remarks, he expressed his role as that of not only sharing the history of THuD but also acknowledging and recognising the true founders with assurance that THuD will continue to exist and grow regardless of who is in the driver’s seat.
He stressed that THuD is characterized by consistency, flavour and a vision. However, the people involved have varied in the past three years. His was to share the importance of sharing the dreams and visions of others so that those who hear them run with them as if they own them.
Ntate Kelello Rametse met the founder, Mr Selebogo Molefe, who birthed THuD in Jo’burg 6 years ago. The first THuD Maseru was Mr Kelello Rametse’s idea. What actually happened was that a group of friends met monthly to provide each other with solutions to hardships they faced in their businesses.
With the ripening of time, the number of attendants increased and THuD was born. It is worth noting that THuD is leading when it comes to crowd funding in South Africa . They raised close to 25 million and created three thousand jobs.
Mr Selebogo Molefe asserted how Maseru is a base of innovation and he comes to it for inspiration. He described himself as a dreamer willing to learn from others. He was thoughtful enough to have brought friends who could expedite the expansion of Basotho businesses into the Western Cape and Zimbabwe.
He assured that when visionaries meet visionaries, magic happens. He revealed that he is a believer in collaboration.
Selebogo admitted that it takes a woman to build a business although men stand on
platforms. What still bugged him was that women ask permission to join the table while
they actually own the table.
What he expressed was soon proven to be true when Mr Monyamane explained that he was about to leave in January. Fortunately, Ms. Lineo Tsikoane assisted revive ThuD Maseru, doing legal tasks with fees above a hundred thousand pro bono (for free) for the benefit of Basotho entrepreneurs.
Selebogo maintained that nothing beats the humility and hospitality of Basotho. When he thinks of Lesotho, he thinks of a mosquito. If you think you can ignore a mosquito, you are in trouble.
He rested his case with a clarion call for African entrepreneurs to start believing in our solutions and building them for the global market.
Stephen Monyamane guaranteed that they were in it for the long haul. Reminding everybody that we are united here by a shared vision and values. He also shared the numbers testifying to the impact of THuD and The Entrepreneurs Network.
To conclude everybody who played a pivotal role in the existence of THuD Maseru got an award.
The winner of this instalment of THuD pitch session was Refiloe Pheku from PEMS 24/7 Ambulance Services. Watch their pitch on the video below.