Ops rituals
Ms Thandi Mokoena
Ms Thandi Mokoena keeps BizMagic’s weekly ops rituals ticking, even during Knysna’s coastal humidity or Somerset West’s power dips.
Read notes on supplier notes, or email magic@bizmagic.co.za.
Rooted in real small business ops
Thandi Mokoena grew up in Knysna, helping out in her family’s grocer on Waterfront Drive. After cuttings her teeth managing supplier check-ins during school holidays, she built a steady reputation for straight, practical ops. She moved to Somerset West in her twenties, running the back-office for a local security installer, before joining a Cape Town bakery group right at month-end peak. Thandi’s knack for quietly sorting chaos made her a go-to for CIPC renewals, VAT201 reminders and getting cash up to date before the Highveld storms hit. Now, she leads weekly ops rituals and load-shed tree sessions at BizMagic.
Guiding rituals across the country
At BizMagic, Thandi runs the national ops ritual programme for owner-managers, from Knysna’s roofers dealing with supplier cut-offs before taxi routes close, to Somerset West’s jam makers juggling EMP201 and B-BBEE affidavits. She meets clients online, usually on a Tuesday or Thursday morning, always with her famous checklist at hand. Each session is practical, down to the last invoice charm or supplier contact, things you can sort before the week runs away. Founders use her help to prep for rand drain weeks (the 25th is a hurdle for many), get their starter kits in line, or check the latest supplier notes from our field team.
Thandi’s tried and tested habits
Thandi is strict about her habits, she believes in checklists and backup routines more than luck, especially during load-shedding or when SADC paperwork is stuck between Beitbridge and a fax machine. She’s always ready with a receipt bag, a COIDA spreadsheet, and a WhatsApp group for supplier issues. Thandi often reminds founders at Somerset West’s supplier hub that even the best cash spell won’t work if your invoice numbering jumps around alot. Here are her non-negotiables for smooth ops:
- Check backup power and battery schedules by 8:00, especially with load-shedding.
- Update SARS eFiling tasks each Monday (VAT201, EMP201, UIF deadlines in the diary).
- Review municipal licences and permits every quarter.
- Run a supplier list review after the 7th and 25th of each month.
- Keep a file of FICA and B-BBEE docs for each big order.
How a session with her works
A session with Thandi covers your next seven days, not next year’s dreams. She prefers voice calls, but will join a video if you’ve got signal (she knows Rosebank’s odd drop-offs). Expect her to review your ops kit status, ask about outstanding cheques, and check if your receipts match your VAT claims. She’ll share supplier updates from the closest hub and dig into new cash calendar notes if your cash flow feels off. You leave each session with two or three things to do, plus one habit to test before the next week.
Thandi’s own words
“Ops rituals aren’t magic, but they keep things going when the weather’s wild or there’s a load-shed. I always say, if you check your permits and call your top three suppliers on a Monday, you’ll sort out half your headaches by Friday. Planning for real South African days, school sports, payday, cash runs, even public holiday glitches, makes small businesses last. I think the right checklist is worth more than a fancy spreadsheet.”
