Insurer employee breaks into entrepreneurship
Zwothe franchise born out of company initiative
Fulufhelo Lukhwareni is an ambitious woman who always wants to explore new markets.
She is the founder and managing director of Zwothe Distributors – a registered and licensed financial services provider. The company came into operation last year and was formed following a Hollard initiative called “Branchin-a-Box” (Biab), whose objective has been the rolling out of Hollard branches across South Africa.
The opportunity was opened to Hollard employees to own and operate branches under a franchise partnership. Lukhwareni had been working at Hollard for five years as a product manager and made the life-changing decision to break into entrepreneurship. Her company already has branches in Thohoyandou, Louis Trichardt, Giyani, Tzaneen and Musina and will soon be launching a new branch in Phalaborwa. “The launch of the new branch in Phalaborwa is in progress and is due next month. All is going well and I’m looking forward to expanding my business,” Lukhwareni said.
Zwothe Distributors currently employs over 100 people. They distribute Hollard underwritten products including among others, group funeral solutions for stokvels, parlours, work sites, individual risk products, legal assist plans, and also provide policy and claims services to their clients. “Like any other start-up, I have had a fair share of teething issues. But the most fulfilling aspect has been the creation of job opportunities within the regions the company operates in,” she said. The 32-year-old brave businesswoman’s future plans include growing her company’s presence in the region and creating new career opportunities, expanding on product offerings and exploring new markets. Lukhwareni is married with two sons aged four and seven. She is the only child to her parents and was raised at Gondeni village outside Thohoyandou in Venda. Her family later moved to Makwarela township when she was in her teenage years. Lukhwareni completed her high school education in 2002 at Tshivhase Secondary School, then studied BCom accounting at the University of Johannesburg before furthering her studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where she obtained her Honours degree in BCom accounting in 2007.