Tim Tebeila, SA’s home-grown mining magnate
“The determination not to borrow money became a fundamental part of my business philosophy. I said to myself, ‘I’m down now, but I’ll push to bring in the business and then I’ll be up again’.”
Vital stats:
- Tim Tebeila grew up in a poor household in Limpopo.
- His mother took care of seven children, while his father supported them as a migrant worker in Joburg.
- Today he is the founder of several enterprises, including Morethi Insurance Brokers, Sekoko Resources and Reliance Life.
In 1995, Tim Tebeila left a successful career as a top Santam insurance sales exec to launch Morethi Insurance Brokers.
Coming from a poor rural background, his success in the corporate world was already a win, but it wasn’t enough for Tebeila. He wanted to make a difference in his community, and that meant starting his own company.
His first entrepreneurial venture was Morethi Insurance Brokers. To build up a client base, he’d wake up at 3am each morning to make sandwiches for his clients.
He knew that breakfast was a real value add: When people do not have a lot of money, food is received as a gift, and lays the foundation for a real relationship.
This focus on hard work and tapping into the needs of the community has been the foundation of everything Tebeila has done since, both in the insurance industry and construction and mining.
His companies focus on putting the community and employees first, which drives goodwill, loyalty, and the ability to make a meaningful difference through entrepreneurship.
Top Lesson:
“Your job is your second home, not just for me, but my staff as well. I see myself as a father figure, and I want to be respected as such. Our employees all have shares in our businesses.
I think it’s critical to feel real ownership in everything you do. Once you share mutual goals, trust and respect, business success is that much more possible and sustainable.”