Breaking into the mining industry usually requires years of experience, specialised knowledge and millions of rands worth of equipment. Yet Jacob Masilela, founder of Mdibande Transport and Projects, managed to do exactly that without a mining background or a fleet of machinery.
His formula for success was simple: persistence, preparation and the determination to think beyond his circumstances. “Sometimes all it takes is for one person in the industry to believe in you,” says Jacob. That belief became a turning point for his business, helping to unlock opportunities for growth and expansion. In just three years, Mdibande Transport and Projects has grown into a mining and civil engineering contractor employing 43 people and operating a fleet of eight earth-moving and mining machines from its base in eastern Pretoria.
Entrepreneurship has always been part of Jacob’s life. His father was a self-employed building contractor, exposing him to business from an early age. At 15, he began working for an entrepreneur connected to his father’s network, gaining firsthand experience of how successful businesses operate. The experience instilled a lifelong habit of learning while working.
After leaving school, Jacob studied accounting while working at his cousin’s accounting practice. Reflecting on that time, he recalls, “I was the only student who came to class wearing a suit. While many of my peers were enjoying campus life, I was juggling work and studies. So didn’t have the luxury of experiencing the typical student lifestyle.”
He completed his BCom degree while working full-time demonstrating a determination and work ethic that would later underpin his entrepreneurial success. His commitment to lifelong learning has continued throughout his career, with his most recent academic pursuit being law. Long before deciding what business he wanted to build, Jacob had already taken the first step by registering a company. “All I knew was that entrepreneurship was in my blood,” he says.
After spending two years in accounting, Jacob decided to venture out on his own. While recovering from an accident at his childhood home in Mpumalanga, he secured his first contract supplying stationery to the primary school he had attended. Shortly thereafter, he successfully won a fencing contract.
Although small, the projects gave him confidence and invaluable experience. “I realised that the fundamentals of business are the same across industries,” he says. Determined to grow, Jacob registered his company on every supplier database he could find and spent the next two years responding to almost every request for quotation that came his way.
“I started hunting,” he says.
His breakthrough came when a local coal mine invited bids for a coal-crusher feeding contract. Although he had no prior experience in the mining sector, he had built a reputation with the mine management as someone who consistently pursued opportunities and submitted well-prepared professional proposals.
When the opportunity arose, he arrived ready. Along with his quotation, Jacob submitted a commitment from a major equipment supplier and secured a financing arrangement with a bank should he win the contract. His preparation paid off when the mine awarded him the contract.
To deliver successfully, Jacob hired experienced operators from the previous contractor while learning the operational side of the business himself. The contract provided valuable industry experience and gave his company the credibility needed to pursue larger opportunities.
As the business grew and new contracts followed, access to financing equipment became the next challenge. One major opportunity was an earthworks contract with the City of Tshwane, which required a R750 000 tractor-loader-backhoe. Securing traditional bank finance proved challenging, as lenders are often reluctant to fund heavy equipment without substantial collateral.
Remembering a former accounting client who had received funding from Business Partners Limited, Jacob approached the company for support. The finance application was approved based on the strength of the contract and his entrepreneurial track record, enabling him to acquire the equipment and continue expanding.
Today, Jacob believes Mdibande Transport and Projects are only beginning its growth journey. “Africa is big,” he says.
He sees significant opportunities within the mining sector and, in time, hopes to diversify into commercial property. Whatever direction the business takes, one thing is certain: he will continue learning while building.
For Jacob, success in mining was never about having the biggest balance sheet. It was about persistence, preparation and the courage to keep showing up until opportunity finally opened the door.
About the Author: BPL Admin
