Millicent Motsoeri, a South African entrepreneur making vacations affordable for working people — Lionesses of Africa

Impact Partner Content – Absa

Everyone loves to take a vacation during the year, but often when the time comes to stop work and take a trip, funds can be in short supply. In South Africa, entrepreneur Millicent Motsoeri, co-founder of Heita Ngamla Holidays, has created a vehicle for customers to pre-pay for their vacations over time, making them more accessible to everyone. 

Heita Ngamla Holidays is one of the 117 companies showcased at the Absa Lionesses Xpo. Lioness Weekender spoke to founder Millicent Motsoeri about her entrepreneurial journey to date and her ambitions for the future. 

What does your company do?

Heita Ngamla Holidays is a vehicle for members to prepay for their vacations. Members accumulate funds via debit order then book a holiday package of their choosing at the time convenient to them, unlike our competitors in timeshare schemes which are dominant in the market. At the point when the member wishes to travel, there is a top-up option when the funds are short. Heita Ngamla Holidays members are guaranteed a hassle free, easily adaptable booking system, with customized packages just the way each client wants.

What inspired you to start your company?

Heita Ngamla Holidays was created for working class people to ensure their participation in quality vacations. We started the travel club in 2008 when we discovered that people love to travel, however they were often faced with difficulties when the time came for them to take leave from work and go on that dream holiday. When annual leave time comes, they have no funds set aside for holidays. Credit misuse and credit card safety are a big headache in the South African economy often with long term adverse consequences. Bookings are a hassle even when one manages to book. So there is no certainty that they will get fair value for the money that they pay.

Why should anyone use your service or product?

The most preferred purchase method for vacations in South Africa and beyond is via instalments. Our clients enjoy the benefit of destinations of their own choice, the flexibility of time or season of their own choosing, as well as no restrictions on the  numbers of those they travel with. Clients choose what their package consists of, for example, they might require a hired car only, or accommodation only, or a full package that may include flights, cruises etc. Heita Ngamla Holidays is a preferred partner of choice because we pay our suppliers up front, in full, before the arrival of our clients. This reinforces peace of mind and credible transactions. Heita Ngamla Holidays engages in continuous relationship management and preferable rates negotiations with industry suppliers, thus ensuring preferred status for our clients.

Tell us a little about your team

Millicent Motsoeri: Operations Manager. Millicent is one of the founding members of Heita Ngamla Holidays. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Administration and has over 20 years’ experience in administrative work for a number of companies and has various certificates in different subjects.

Benny Motsoeri: Business Development. Manager Benny is one of the founding members of Heita Ngamla Holidays. He has 15 years’ experience in the travel industry across a wide variety of disciplines. Prior to starting Heita Ngamla Holidays, Benny worked as a Sales Consultant for a number of companies.

Lillian Mashilwane: Administrator. Lillian joined Heita Ngamla Holidays in August 2014 and she is responsible for the company’s financial administration and customer services functions. She is currently studying Bookkeeping.

Norman Molefe: Sales Manager. Norman has been with the company since its inception. His role is to recruit members and organize trips. Prior to joining Heita Ngamla Holidays, he worked at Pick n Pay for over 30 years.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

I was introduced to the life of business as a university student. I worked part-time promoting Fast Moving Consumer Goods in supermarkets. I also did a stint at Dial-A-Student passing out flyers at busy traffic intersections. My work life began with employment as a business administrator which was really fulfilling for what I studied to do, but that was short lived. I had discovered that I am people-centered and I love working with people. This self-discovery led me to network marketing. The networking thrill soon became a passion to create innovative solutions for solving everyday problems. I co-founded Dial-A-Helper in which we trained carefully screened domestic helpers which we subsequently placed and managed for our clients.

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

To be the preferred tourism business in Southern Africa and beyond. To give all South Africans an opportunity to experience tourism products without paying an arm and a leg.

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

The ability to write my own cheque, doing what I enjoy.

What’s the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?

At times things will seem and feel as if the more you move 100 steps forward, time and pressure take you a thousand steps back, because in your eyes your peers are progressing to greater heights and you are not. Remember your dream is big and it won’t take a day to build, hence you must persevere and be patient. You are a winner (Bekezela).

To find out more about Heita Ngamla Holidays, contact Millicent Motsoeri via email: millicent@ngamla.co.za or visit the company website and social media pages:

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