Thapelo Rapoo, born in Luka Village, one of Impala Rustenburg’s mine communities, is the proud owner of Classic Oriental Consultancy, a company that cofacilitates Impala Rustenburg’s ESD Programme. The programme helps mine-community SMMEs formalise or improve their business to enable them to provide high-quality goods and services to Impala Rustenburg and other companies.

Classic Oriental Consultancy was established in 2010 and is a 100% black owned company, specialising in business development, enterprise and supplier development and consultancy. Thapelo is a training and development specialist with more than 15 years’ experience, and has worked with several public and private entities, focusing on training and development for SMMEs and other stakeholders.

I am the founder and director of Classic Oriental Consultancy, a Rustenburg-based company specialising in employee wellness programmes, ESD programmes and consultancy services for corporates, mines and many other clients. I hold Diplomas in Accountancy and Business Information Technology, a Higher Certificate in Occupationally Directed Education Training and Development Practices, and I am currently enrolled for a BA in Human and Social Science, majoring in Community. I am a motivational speaker, teacher and community development specialist. My passion is empowering people, helping them discover their destiny and having a larger vision for their lives. My straight-from-the-heart energy motivates and engages many people to step into their greatness, providing them with the confidence to take the initiative towards living their dreams. All our clients have something in common – a need. We identify that need and address it in the most effective way. Because that need is at the heart of everything we do, it has come to shape every aspect of our business.

Our portfolio of services draws on our core capabilities of research, benchmarking, modelling, analysis and strategy development, to help our clients determine the best way forward with precision and confidence. Being one of the implementing partners of Impala Rustenburg’s ESD Programme has contributed immensely to our business growth. We have used the knowledge, training, mentorship, and coaching programmes that we offer to the beneficiaries to grow our own business. Working with the ESD beneficiaries is challenging and exciting. The robust discussions we have during our training sessions – and the desire to change the narrative around local SMMEs – propels us to strive for excellence in all we do. I am grateful to Impala Rustenburg for giving us the opportunity to partner on this initiative, which will make such a great impact in our communities. As a local company, our biggest hope is to see more local SMMEs given core business opportunities outside of the mining sector, create employment opportunities and transform Rustenburg’s economic status. Over and above “business as usual,” Classic Oriental Consultancy engages in many initiatives geared towards community development, such as school development programmes, entrepreneurial training and learner support development programmes.

I hope to see more local companies participating in the mainstream economy and in capital projects within various sectors. 

My passion to learn and commitment to personal growth has helped me realise greatness in myself, which has enabled me to help others achieve their greatness.