Business Connect’s Impact in South Africa

Alex Olivier, Business Connect’s South Africa Hub Manager, takes pride in giving people peace of mind with our products during the current water crisis in his region.  Through our advanced reach in South Africa, we have joined platforms like MOYA.app in order to provide water purification products to the exact demographic that needs them the most. Alex and I dove deeper into what life looks like during the water crisis right now and how we are helping below. 

Water Crisis in South Africa

Right now, only 50% of the water within the municipalities and water treatment plants is at a good enough quality for consumption. The other half of the water works are not producing or treating the water to be used for consumption. The other issue leading the water crisis is distribution. The pump network is at about 50%, meaning that half of the water that has been treated does not reach an end user. South Africa currently has enough water to reach its population, but the resources are limited when getting it to communities, which is where water shedding comes in, lasting for weeks or even months at a time. The people within the communities do not trust the water after it is turned back on since it comes out dirty often with an unpleasant odour. 

Alex believes that there is light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the water crisis in South Africa and that there are big steps being taken to remedy the issues. “My main priority is for Business Connect and our products to be front of mind when people decide to take their water quality into their own hands. Using platforms like www.businessconnectworld.co.za and Moya help us to achieve this. These products allow the communities here to be self-sufficient knowing that there will be no pathogens or diseases in their water providing them with ultimate peace of mind,” he said.

Influence Through Distribution

A vast majority of people in South Africa live below the poverty line, meaning they are not making enough of a living to sustain themselves or their families. Specifically when it pertains to the youth population (15-34 year olds), the unemployment rate is about 60%. A large number of these individuals are well-educated and would likely jump at the opportunity to start a business like distributing water purification products. At Business Connect, we not only want to help people have clean water, but also help them earn a living through helping others. Through MOYA.app, we are able to reach this exact demographic who wishes to start a business selling these products and impacting their communities. Alex said, “This is one of my main goals right now. I want to have products available that can help communities in my region and also help them earn a living.”

South Africa’s economy is growing sluggishly while the online retail sector is expanding at a rapid pace providing more access to goods and services than ever before. We have more potential than ever before to reach people because mobile devices are more accessible, data is more available, and through apps like Moya and even our website www.businessconnectworld.co.za. Not to mention that Amazon has just launched in South Africa as well. More access to these products allows communities to take the water crisis into their own hands, actively stock their own resources, and earn a decent wage to be able to provide for their families. 

Water Purification Resources

Currently, the most common way to purify water in South Africa is bleach, or Jik. The issue with using bleach, however, is that it is not meant for human consumption. If bleach is your last resort or there is an emergency situation, by all means do what you have to for your family. However, please know that there are better alternatives available to you that are inexpensive and give you more peace of mind. 

One of these products, and our biggest seller in South Africa, is Aquatabs water disinfection tablets. If you have a large water tank available to you in your community or next to your house, the Aquatabs 8.68g tub of 10 is the best solution for that. “They are not just a nice-to-have product, but a necessity when it comes to safe water,” Alex said. There are other size tablets of Aquatabs as well if you have a smaller water storage supply or if you are just using a water bottle on a hike. Alex would love to discuss this product with you and how you can use it to provide your family with accessible drinking water. 

Alex’s Impact at Business Connect

Alex first started with Business Connect back in 2017, when he met Darin Fey, our Global Director, at a local exhibition in South Africa. He had an online store at the time and figured he would see about selling water purification products through Business Connect. His partnership with Business Connect has only blossomed since then with joining apps such as MOYA.app. Previously, he had to order small amounts at a time, but now he is able to hold larger amounts of stock and provide bigger orders to reach more people within the community. 

Due to everything being online, Alex is able to provide products to more people easier than if he owned a storefront. He believes that this partnership will only grow from here with looking into more platforms to access and now having Amazon available in South Africa. These products are able to be delivered direct to door or direct to locker, allowing anyone to access them and have them available in a safe space. 

“I am proud to be a distributor for Business Connect and what we have accomplished in South Africa together. I feel like we can only go up from here and I am hopeful that we will be able to reach even more people and provide even more access to clean water. Through these efforts the water crisis will begin to get better. It is not a matter of how, but a matter of when,” Alex said.