Thabang Mofokeng, chief executive officer of SAMAC Engineering Solutions (Pty) Ltd, has always been a strong support to his peers by providing innovative ideas for any sort of challenge. In his years as a marketing student at MUT, he never aspired to join the student representative council but was the main go-to person for advice and support to wishful SRC candidates. This solutionist desire ultimately resulted in the founding of AMAC Engineering Solutions – a mechanical engineering solutions company focusing on technological research & development and component fabrication. The company’s services include the supply of thermal energy storage air conditioning, tooling and component fabrication and design services. On 29 November 2018, SAMAC received an award for being the Most Innovative company at the SAB Kickstart awards: a great endorsement for the work that Thabang and his teammates are doing.
“What sets us apart is that we are a green company; we support clean energy and zero carbon emissions in all our inventions. One of our award-winning patented inventions is the first African designed and manufactured thermal mobile air-conditioning unit, launched during the Business Fair in 2017. This air-conditioning system reduces electricity cost by up to 30%. Its distinctive feature is its ability to generate thermal energy during off-peak period when electricity is at the lowest billing rate, thereby offering a load shifting advantage. We believe that through our energy saving products we contribute greatly to environmental sustainability,” said Thabang.
With his vast experience and professional training in Marketing & Business Management (he holds strategic positions such as chairperson of the SME Forum and business advisor/mentor for the Umsobomvu Youth Fund), it made sense for Thabang to team up with experts across various engineering streams. The result is the power-packed team that is the brains behind the SAMAC Engineering Solutions brand. This team of innovators is working tirelessly to spread their wings beyond South African borders through participation in international conferences and exhibitions. SAMAC was recently selected by SEDA KZN as one of the few companies to attend the Manufacturing Best Practices Tour in India in December 2018.
Amidst his very busy schedule, Thabang is a regular visitor to MUT, his alma mater. His company has many joint projects with MUT’s Research Office and the Faculty of Engineering. The collaboration includes knowledge sharing and testing of inventions. There is also the possibility of Thabang doing presentations and mentoring MUT students on entrepreneurship. This would be a welcome contribution to enable MUT students to rise above the challenges of graduate unemployment.
