Martin Masitise
Full Name: Martin Nare Masitise
Position and Company Name: Founder and CEO of Mohlalefi Engineering
Main Activity of the Company: Manufacturing of mining roof support products, mining safety consulting and hydrogen energy research
Date and Place of Birth: December 20, 1986, Soweto, Gauteng
Schools and Tertiary Education: Madume Primary School and Raphela Secondary School, both in Orange Farm, Gauteng; BSc (Mechanical Engineering), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); MSc (Mechanical Engineering), Wits; Postgraduate Diploma (Manufacturing Focus), Gordon Institute of Business Science; final-year LLB candidate, University of South Africa
First Job: Providing garden services on a part-time basis while I was at high school
Size of First Pay Packet: R30 a day
Career Path to Date: I am a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa and have worked in the nuclear energy, mining and manufacturing sectors, specialising in product development and commercialisation. The exposure received in my previous employment roles led to me identifying a gap in the mining safety products market, which resulted in my founding of Mohlalefi Engineering in 2017
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: 57
Management Style: Results- or outcome-based, with constant communication and feedback to allow for iterations; continuous improvement and innovation; and fast-paced response to customer needs
Personal Best Achievement: Matriculating with distinction and being ranked the fourth-best student from more than 400 township high schools in Gauteng, and receiving an Excellence Award from the province’s then MEC for Education, Angie Motshekga. I also received the inaugural Presidential Black Industrialist Excellence Award from President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: My mother
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Mohlalefi, my great-great-grandfather, who is the originator of my family clan name and after whom my company is named, as well as Elon Musk – I admire his innovation and perspective of the universe
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Discovery founder and CEO Adrian Gore, and Ntate Mabe, who owned a liquor distribution company in Orange Farm when I was growing up
Philosophy of Life: There is no limit to what we can achieve – God created the universe, and Planet Earth is only the beginning
Biggest Ever Opportunity: As someone from a previously disadvantaged background, the opportunity to study at Wits
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Deepening inequality, which has led to increasing economic divides in the world
Hope for the Future: A prosperous African continent that beneficiates its minerals and an end to world hunger, in line with Sustainable Development Goal Number 2
Favourite Reading: Start with Why, by Simon Sinek
Favourite TV Programme: SuperSport – motorsport
Favourite Food/Drink: Traditional Sunday Kos (7 colours)
Favourite Music: House and Amapiano
Favourite Sport: F1, soccer and cricket
Hobbies: Playing pool, watching sports and participating in community-upliftment projects
Car: BMW
Pets: Two dogs – Shelly and Spike
Miscellaneous Dislikes: Crime and lawlessness
Married: No
Children: None
Clubs: Mshengu 11 Football Club