Intelligent and hard working intrepreneur

Olebogeng Wagae is making a mark in the business world. He is focused and determined..

By:   Onalenna Jantjie

Tell us about yourself....

My name is Olebogeng Wagae, I was born in a small village called Deerward in 1989. I was raised there and attended pre-school there in 1994 and then I went to live in Bothithong village with my mom where she was a teacher. I Started school at Sengae Primary school then after completing my seventh grade I went to Tiger Kloof Combined School (formerly known as Tiger Kloof Educational Institution) where I completed my matric. I then went to study at the University of Johannesburg, and that’s where I obtained my Bcom Accounting degree. 

As a young man I have always had a passion for business and politics. At high school I used to sell biscuits in the hostel and that’s when I realized that I am passionate about business. I did commercial subjects and I was one of the top achievers in my matric class. My passion for politics developed at UJ when I started reading newspapers literally every day. I then joined the SASCO student movement on Kingsway campus which I later decided to quit because it was taking a lot of my time. I developed a strong desire to start my own accounting firm when I was invited to a vacation work by one of the big four accounting firms on the continent, Price Waterhouse Coopers at Sunninghill. The second vacation work was at KPMG in Parktown.  At third year level I was studying part-time so I worked for Standard bank as a General and business banking consultant at their head office. I then joined Discovery Health nine months later as a consultant for Vitality at their head office.

When did you start your Business?

  In 2014 January.

What services do you offer?

o    Financial statements preparation
o    Bookkeeping
o    Company registrations and amendments
o    Payroll services and software
o    Tax services
o    Business services (such business plan, business profiles, resolutions, etc.)
o    Business seminars and workshops

Where are your offices?
 Number 2 Church Street, directly opposite NC signs. I have two employees

What sets you apart from your competitors?

Firstly I am registered with the Southern African Institute of Business Accountants as a business accountant in practice. I have also registered with the South African Institute of Tax Professionals as a General Tax Practitioner recognized by SARS. Secondly, I started this company from the bottom and I know ALL the ins and outs of starting and nurturing a company. I can easily relate to the challenges of my clients and provide tailored solutions to their unique businesses.

 I have dealt with more than 600 different clients (companies and individuals) in the past four years and our services are positioned very well for literally all the industries. So we don’t try a solution on a client, we give the solution to the client.

Why would you encourage customers opt for your services?

I know the problems facing our growing companies in JTG district and with the amount of experience and knowledge I possess, I believe that’s all the apparatus any company would need to cross over any bridge in my field.

Do you have a role model?

Yes Adrian Gore. CEO and Founder of Discovery Group. His philosophy of  not trying to be the biggest but the best. He does not believe in being the 1^st person to do something or to come with an idea, but rather study what already exist and make it better. He does not believe in competition, he believes in dominating or taking over the market.

What is your motto?

Let’s go beyond average.

Telling life stories through art

“When I paint I am in another world filled with peace and happiness"

By: Onalenna Jantjie

Bophelo Sephiri grew up in Masilabetsane village in Kuruman.  Although he is an artist of note, he has never gone to school to learn how to paint and draw.  “I discovered my artistic talent in Std 4 during a social science period where my teacher had given us a task of writing and illustrating with pictures.  My illustration was so perfect that I got 24/25,” he said.  Before then he said he enjoyed tracing on paper. “I would put a white paper on top of a picture I like and then trace it.  This developed into a real love affair as Bophelo would sit and draw in the exam room after he had submitted his script. “After we handed over our exam script we would be expected to sit and wait for others to finish.  So I would sit and just draw,” he explained further stating that he likes drawing emotional pictures as they tell a story with a deeper meaning." I also love landscapes as they can give a person peace of mine.  My audience can actually experience peace of mind just by looking at the sunset. It also gives clarity of mind.  And that’s what I hope people take from my art pieces.  Although Bophelo is very talented, he hasn’t been immune to challenges faced by his counterparts. ”It’s very hard to make money as an artist if you are based in small towns because to some extend people in Kuruman do not really appreciate art,” he said.  He has however managed to carve a niche in the community. “I have a small client base that appreciates my art. Most of them have bought my art pieces” he said. Despite the challenges, Bophelo says he prefers drawing on canvas. “In most cases Canvas is expensive but a piece of art drawn on a canvas cannot be easily destroyed unlike when you draw on paper,” says Bophelo. His dream as he says  is to own an art studio in few years to come. “Maybe by then JTG people would have learned to appreciate art and know that a piece of art says million words,” he said.

Contacts: 07 047 7788