Bots Bakers Wins Iwisa Community Champion AwardBots Bakers Wins Iwisa Community Champion Award Emmanuel Mothae, CEO and founder of Bots Bakers, has won the 2024 Iwisa No. 1 Community Champion for the Free State. Mothae’s innovative business plan, which utilizes tricycles for door-to-door product delivery, impressed the judging panel. Reinvestment Plans Mothae plans to invest the R30,000 prize money back into Bots Bakers to enhance sustainability and provide ongoing support for his employees. He employs 13 individuals, including tricyclists who serve as sales agents. Startup Story Mothae launched Bots Bakers in 2020 with a loan from Seda. Recognizing the demand for affordable bread in Botshabelo, he chose tricycles for distribution due to their cost-effectiveness. Each tricycle can deliver up to 100 loaves of bread. Impact on the Community Bots Bakers not only addresses food security but also provides meaningful employment for the youth of Botshabelo. Mothae attributes his success to the dedication of his staff, who deliver products door-to-door and serve as sales agents. Iwisa’s Involvement Iwisa, a milling company, launched the Community Champion competition to empower individuals and social enterprises. They received nearly 600 entries and commended the exceptional contributions of social enterprises across the country.
Emmanuel Mothae (right, chief executive officer and founder of Bots Bakers) being presented a cheque by Julian Singonza (premier fast-moving consumer goods managing executive). Photo: Supplied
A young Botshabelo-based entrepreneur’s perfectly polished business pitch won him the prize money needed to reinvest into his bakery.
Emmanuel Mothae (34) was named the 2024 Iwisa No. 1 Community Champion for the Free State, after pitching his business, Bots Bakers.
The provincial final of the pitching competition was held in Bloemfontein on 19 July.
Keketso Mokgothu of Mtswako Immune Booster took the second prize of R20 000, and Kemiso Motholo of KemiChem walked home with the third prize of R10 000.
Mothae scooped the first prize of R30 000, which he says he plans to reinvest in the business, for it to become sustainable.
The expert judging panel voted Mothae’s Bots Bakers as most deserving of the coveted prize amongst nine finalists. He was chosen for his innovative thinking and vision.
Mothae has five young men in his employment, using five tricycles to distribute freshly baked products like bread, buns, pies and muffins.
“Each tricycle is designed to distribute 100 loafs of bread, and every loaf is delivered to clients still in good condition,” said Mothae.
“I decided having tricycles as part of delivery because they are cost-effective and suited my ability for startup. As for employing youth, I considered the rife unemployment. I did a search before starting a barkery, considering there is demand for affordable and quality bread in Botshabelo.”
Mothae, who has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Theology, says reinvesting the cash prize received will enable him to provide ongoing support to the workers – three women and eight men – employed at the small-scale bakery.
“The work we do is about more than creating food security. It is about meaningful employment for the youth of Botshabelo so they can have fulfilling jobs and futures,” believes Mothae.
In photo: Mohapi Phiri (left) and Keletso Khutlane, delivery agents, on their distinct tricycles.
He says the team of tricyclists also serves as sales agents, doing delivery of the products door-to-door.
He attributes his success thus far to the loyalty and dedication of his staff.
Mothae says he registered the business in 2020 and started operating in 2022, receiving financial support in a loan from the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda).
Sibongile Mooko, premier executive of marketing milling for Iwisa, says they received overwhelming applications.
“We received almost 600 entries in total across the four participating regions, and the quality of applications was also significant.
“As a brand committed to building strong communities and empowering individuals, we were touched and humbled by the exceptional contributions social enterprises are making across our nation,” Mooko.
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