‘Your name and reputation is your biggest asset’ Jannie Moolman
Moolman is a well-known business personality in the city. He was raised in Polokwane where he matriculated from Hoërskool Pietersburg (PHS) in 1969.
POLOKWANE – “It is important to have a passion for whatever you want to do in life. The fire in my belly is what motivates me in life. I enjoy my career and what I do so I don’t actually see my daily activities as work and that is what I consider as passion,” says Jannie Moolman.
Moolman is a well-known business personality in the city. He was raised in Polokwane where he matriculated from Hoërskool Pietersburg (PHS) in 1969.
After completing a B.Com Accounting degree at the University of Pretoria he joined his father in the Moolman Group in 1973.
Moolman served on various committees and boards and remains an active contributor in his community.
He is currently the Executive Chairperson of the Moolman Group, which was started by his parents in 1967, when they invested in a small commercial property in Polokwane, which developed over the years.
The Moolman Group
A large number of properties in the city are owned by the Moolman Group and the company boasts on its website that at present, they own and manage assets valued in excess of R7 billion and incorporates several property investment companies, the majority of which are partnerships with other companies and individuals. This achievement can partially be attributed to the fact that the Moolman Group has a proud reputation of maintaining sound relationships with its wide range of partners.
The Moolman Group provides a comprehensive and professional approach to the development of property as well as project and property management.
Rarely is a project regarded as too big or small to take on.
According to Moolman it was not always his dream to get involved in business, he wanted to be a historian.
“Like many young people I was undecided and might have preferred to be a historian or a writer, but duty to my family called. My father and the late Aziz Moti were my mentors in my early career and I learned a lot from them. I think when a person starts a business you must have the right attitude, skill yourself in the industry of your choice and you will be successful.
“To me success is measured in deliverable performance criteria of an organisation to all its stakeholders such as profit to the shareholders, client relationships, employee satisfaction, and reinvestment into communities,” Moolman explained.
He added that the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make is that they give up too soon and that failure is frowned upon in society.
“Next time try to fail better, and pick yourself up again. I have had a wonderful life so far and I have made many mistakes, but have few regrets. I think young entrepreneurs should determine their own destiny. They must be honourable in all their dealings.Your name and reputation is your biggest asset and you can destroy it in a moment,” Moolman said.
Being your own boss or working with partners and to determine your own success, be it financially or otherwise, are some of the benefits of being an entrepreneur. However, the disadvantage is that it comes with enormous responsibility, stress and uncertain outcomes, Moolman advised.
“We need more entrepreneurs in our country, but it is about managing and taking calculated risks. I think there is huge potential for entrepreneurs in Limpopo, especially Polokwane, there always will be. We need to invest more in our youth to realise this by proper methods of education and creating the correct attitudes,” Moolman said.
Asked what legacy he wants to leave behind, Moolman said a successful thriving family organisation.
