Two childhood friends turned business partners, Tshego Molefi and Ofentse Melato-Dube, are transforming South Africa’s waste into opportunities through Moli & Mela Group. The duo leads an all-women, black-owned waste management company that cleans communities, creates jobs, and fosters a circular economy.
This vision began with piles of trash in the streets after Tshego Molefi and Ofentse Melato-Dube grew tired of the waste in their surroundings. They had always discussed their desire to build something meaningful that their community could be proud of. So, together, they decided to clean up the mess if no one else would.
Best friends in business
Moli & Mela Group is a 100% women—and black-owned waste management company based in the North West province of South Africa. While Melato oversees operations, including hiring and training, Molefi manages finance and growth. Its operations focus on waste removal, disposal, and sustainable recycling solutions for residential, commercial, industrial, and mining clients.
The waste management company was registered in 2013, but it wasn’t until 2017 that it landed its first major contract. A shopping complex manager urgently needed a waste contractor, and the company took on the job. From there, things improved. Today, Moli & Mela Group is a powerhouse in waste management. Their goal is to reduce landfill waste in the North West province by 50% within five years.
Moli & Mela Group’s services include waste collection, sorting, and sustainable recycling for major events and large contractors. At the Nedbank Golf Challenge, they handled nearly 8,000 tons of waste and recycled a third.
The company has grown from two friends to over 60 employees, many young Black women from local communities. Previously unemployed women now have stable jobs and steady incomes to support their families.
Tshego Molefi and Ofentse Melato-Dube plan to launch a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Tshego’s hometown, Ledig. The facility will use recycled plastics to produce crates, bins, and bottles. This is a bold move toward a circular economy.
