An electrical contracting business rooted in Kenhardt, has transformed from a compliance-challenged startup into a growing local employer of 32 community members, thanks to support from a local enterprise development programme.
Registered in 2020 but only operational since 2025, Talita Koemi Solutions initially found it difficult to find work in the area, due to compliance related challenges. Through its enterprise development programme, which is committed to inclusive local development, Aries Solar Power stepped in to assist the business achieve full compliance in September last year.
This support quickly enabled Talita Koemi Solutions to secure an eighteen-month contract at the plant, where local teams adjust solar panel angles two to four times per year to optimise sunlight capture and electricity output.
Additional support included procuring personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees and providing references that helped the business secure additional contracts with SANRAL and Transnet.
“Before the solar contract, I was financially broke and I had nothing, but now I have stability. I could create employment and make an impact in the community. There has been growth in the business that is now being acknowledged by big companies such as Transnet,” says Christoffel Kleyn, owner of Talita Koemi Solutions.
The company now delivers a wide range of services in the community including construction and maintenance, project implementation, supply and logistics, and community development. Its medium-term goals include expanding its Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) grading, purchasing equipment, training locals as supervisors and foremen, securing long-term contracts, and diversifying its services to serve Kenhardt and beyond.
“Talita Koemi Solutions stood out for us with their local roots and clear potential. Assisting them has delivered measurable impact in the Kenhardt community by feeding families and building a reliable supply chain,” added Glen Berkat, Social Specialist for Aries Solar Power.
This initiative clearly illustrates the impact of the solar project’s enterprise development programme, which is called to positively contribute to the development of the Kenhardt community.
