by Matlhodi Chauke

From a cleaner to prosperous businessman. This is the story of the 35-year-old Edward Moshole, a former cleaner at Enterprise Food, whose life changed completely through the development of cleaning products by the University’s Technology Station in Chemicals (TSC) at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Ga-Rankuwa Campus.

Since the establishment of TSC in 2000, it has been developing products for over forty small, micro- and medium enterprises (SMMEs) as part of its technology transfer mandate with Tshumisano (Partnership in Technology).

Moshole says working with cleaning detergents at Enterprise Food gave birth to his interest in cleaning products. He fell in love with the idea of producing a cleaning detergent of a good quality and therefore started a business in detergents back in 1998.

At that stage, Moshole mixed chemicals to produce cleaning detergents in Germiston, until he was awarded a R7 million tender by Ekurhuleni and the City of Johannesburg. In 2003 Moshole approached TSC, initiating a deal for his products to be developed. This step was inspired by the retail route he wanted to take, but he was not confident enough to put his product on the shelves.

Furthermore, he wanted to build a brand and he now had the capital ability to do that. By 2004 the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) had approved his products developed by TSC and Moshole’s brand, Chem-fresh, was born. Chem-fresh products range from ammonia cleaner to foam bath, degreasers, etc.

Chem-fresh now operates from Wynburg (Johannesburg). The company does its own processing, packaging, branding and distribution and creates many jobs for South Africans. Moreover Chem-fresh services major outlets such as Pick ‘n Pay (Bloemfontein, Limpopo and Gauteng), Score, Boxer and selected chain stores, including the Spar Group.

In return for TSC’s contribution to his products, Moshole offers internships and vacancies to chemical engineering and analytical chemistry students. “I will always keep TUT as a technical partner because of the technical knowledge they have to offer,” said Moshole.

“The centre will continue aiding Chem-fresh with technical support in its future endeavours,” added Vincent Tau, Technology Station in Chemicals Manager. Chem-fresh products were the only Pick ‘n Pay products that increased their growth by 27% during the global economic crisis.