Meet Dr Anna Mokgokong, chairperson of Community Investment Holdings

Introducing Community Investment Holdings

Community Investment Holdings (CIH) was established in 1995 by Mokgokong – who was born in Soweto and raised in Swaziland – and Joe Madungandaba. A 100% black-owned and women-led company, it has interests in healthcare, information and communications technology, power and energy, logistics, mining and infrastructure development. It has a consolidated turnover in excess of R20 billion.

Turning specifically to the transport industry, CIH is a shareholder in Crossroads, Larimar and the VME Group, an engine and truck rebuilder. Crossroads is a massive trucking company that transports general freight, fuel and bulk liquids, gases, chemicals and explosives. Larimar, in turn, owns Putco, which is the biggest passenger bus operator in the country, operating 1 910 buses and transporting more than 300 000 passengers daily in Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo. The buses travel over 98 million kilometres per annum.

 

20-year transport journey

A medical doctor by training, Mokgokong’s journey in the transport industry began over two decades ago. “My journey in transport and logistics began over 20 years ago when CIH invested in Crossroads Distribution, a road freight company. On 30 June 2006, an empowerment investment opportunity arose when Putco was delisting. I was invited as a female business leader to form part of the female entrepreneur shareholding,” she reveals.

Before joining the commercial transport industry, she was a businesswoman. “I have been in business since 1982 in other sectors. Post our democracy in 1994, many opportunities arose in business and one of those was in freight logistics. Our business is a diversified investment holding company. While we are involved in eight other sectors of the economy, logistics has been one of our key investment areas.”

Her role at CIH is executive. “I lead the board, formulate policy and oversee the implementation thereof. I also take care of corporate governance and new business development. One’s oversight role is required at all times,” she explains.

 

Vital industry – but not always easy

She says the commercial transport industry is an exceptionally important one. “It is a huge job creator, and it is impactful on the economy, due to the movement of goods and people. Therefore, it renders more of a socio-economic service, rather than just being a profit-making business,” Mokgokong explains.

However, things have not always been plain sailing. “I often reflect on how we have managed under the current challenges to maintain the companies, to survive and thrive. The economy has been bad, and that impacted also the sustainability of the industry as there were huge job losses, meaning fewer people utilize our services.”

But she remains optimistic. “One must always remain positive that the wave will change, and the wave will turn. Soon South Africa will enjoy economic growth again that will impact the success of this sector. There’s always a need for goods to move from one point to another by road. That can only change once we develop an efficient rail freight system, but for now, the country is highly reliant on trucking,” Mokgokong maintains.

 

Dreams for the future

Going forward, she has high hopes. “I would like to see all the companies that my hands have touched not only thrive but also flourish. I would like to see that I’ve created steady jobs for all our citizens and I want to run efficient and sustainable businesses.”

She would also like to see more women in the transport industry. Mokgokong believes that the industry is more accepting of women in leadership positions today (compared to 20 years ago). “I do believe it is more conducive now than ever before, but we need to open the floodgates to enable more women to come in at leadership positions as well as from a business front. The patriarchal society is the main inhibitor. We need more women in the commercial vehicle industry. We need to reach gender equality in all opportunities that are available in our country including the mainstream economy in this sector.”

 

Passionate about uplifting women

Mokgokong is passionate about uplifting all women in South Africa, encouraging them towards both business and personal success. In this pursuit, she gives many mentorships and motivational talks to young and up-and-coming women’s groups on empowerment opportunities. She stresses that groups and associations are very important.

“My word of advice to young women thinking about a career in the commercial vehicle industry is to form partnerships and for women to join associations that can be used as a platform for that voice that will reverberate in the corridors and influence policy and power. A single voice cannot do it. We need to engage policy-makers. Decision-makers need to begin to take the plight of women more seriously,” she points out.

Well, one thing is certain. Given her impressive credentials (Mokgokong has been inducted into the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World, she was the recipient of the prestigious 1999 SA Businesswoman of the Year Award and she took over the reins of the Honorary Consul General of Iceland to Pretoria, replacing President Cyril Ramaphosa… to name but a few of her many accolades), this is one woman who will always be taken very seriously indeed.