The B2B store will be wholly owned by WaKhanyane PTY Ltd, trading as Waltons Independent, and will operate in the Steelpoort area in Limpopo.

Waltons has assisted the small business with funding, capacity-building and skills transfer in a deal estimated at R1.8-million, and will see the female-led company benefit from Waltons experience, longevity, scale, efficiencies and networks. Additionally, the new business has an exclusive contract to supply Glencore Mines with all their stationery and office supplies needs.

“Enterprise development fits into Waltons’ expansion ambitions, which necessitates increasing the brand’s footprints in areas where we are not represented. Through our Waltons Independent brand we can partner with entrepreneurs to symbiotically grow our businesses and ultimately South Africa’s economy,” says Waltons Group HR Director, Elizabeth Arulappen.

The process of choosing a suitable partner to benefit from the enterprise development initiative was robust and dynamic, with the opportunity advertised in local media.

“Our aim is to empower an entrepreneur who had a sharp business plan and skills, and someone who is active in the community. After a vigorous process we are confident that we found a suitable partner in Tebogo Molapo, the owner of WaKhanyane,” says Arulappen.

Molapo, from Sekhukhune in Limpopo, had been previously running her events and management company in the CSI space.

“Owning my own Waltons store presents a unique opportunity in my journey as an entrepreneur. I have already benefited enormously from Waltons’ business intelligence and networks,” says Molapo.

The Waltons Independent store will launch on Monday, 26 May in Steelpoort, Limpopo.