An Out of Box approach to public service  delievery:Moti Group

Globally, 59 million children of primary school age are out of school. Of these, more than half live in sub-Saharan Africa. This is according to the Unesco Institute for Statistics (UIS), who notes that poor infrastructure availability remains a significant barrier to improving the continent’s education outcomes. With that in mind, one somewhat surprising figure has turned his formidable financial expertise and knowledge of the public sector to solving Africa’s education and healthcare challenges, with a literal out-of-the-box solution for infrastructure delivery: shipping containers. This figure is Dondo Mogajane, the former Director-General of National Treasury and new Chief Executive Officer of the Moti Group of companies, who left a successful 23-year career in the public sector to join the business in July last year.

Mogajane is well remembered for his successes in fiscal consolidation and reining in government debt, as well as for his integrity and courage as part of the group that stood firm against state capture. Now, as the leader of a private investment holdings company with diverse interests in Zimbabwe and South Africa, he is working closely with Executive Director Mikaeel Moti to write a new chapter for both the group and Africa as a whole. “I was in the thick of things at National Treasury for many years, and I’ve seen that while the economic opportunities are there in Africa, we also need to develop financially sustainable programmes that address service delivery and infrastructure backlogs. We need to look beyond adding people into the grant framework and fix our economic and social problems at the source,” he says. “The reality is that given the many demands on government funds and resources, balancing social needs against economic sustainability is a huge challenge – which is why the basics of education and healthcare are so important.

We need to address society’s root challenges by empowering people with the skills they need to create successful businesses, and giving them the support they need to function as skilled, productive workers. “By prioritising education and healthcare, and getting these two things right, socio-economic development, job creation and economic growth will naturally follow.”In response, Mogajane and Moti have launched the African HERO project, a containerised, financial solution to service delivery that leapfrogs many of the barriers inhibiting the progress of infrastructure rollouts across the continent.For example, in addition to a shortage of schools, the UIS reveals that as many as one in three primary schools do not have toilets and half do not have drinking water – key factors which impact learners’ health and attendance rates – particularly girls.

Additionally, most primary schools do not have access to electricity, further impacting learning performance and the ability to gain vital digital skills. By contrast, African HERO’s recycled and renovated shipping containers offer self-sufficient clinics and schools that come fully equipped with solar energy, back-up generators, boreholes, water filtration systems, air-conditioning, and even reinforced doors and windows and CCTV systems for security. Affordable, durable, modular, and portable, these containers can be delivered anywhere, overcoming the need for pre-existing infrastructure or roads. Its schools consist of eight classrooms able to accommodate up to 240 students, and offer a fully serviced Computer Sciences laboratory with built-in computers and internet. Additionally, the schools boast a courtyard, tuck-shop, sports field, and office space for a principal, a receptionist, and another four administrative offices for support staff.

Likewise, quality healthcare remains a key focus for the group. The World Health Organization estimates that the burden of disease on African communities cost economies an estimated $2.4 trillion every year.So, by providing quality healthcare facilities in underserved communities, the Moti Group hopes to support households and businesses, while mitigating the economic impacts of disease. In response, its clinics offer built-in dispensaries, as well as modern medical diagnostic and treatment equipment such as electrocardiograms, dynamic monitors, and rapid test kits. These are integrated with cutting-edge technology to enable doctors to accurately diagnose and treat patients virtually using clinical information gathered by nurses, ensuring that all patients receive world-class healthcare.

Able to treat between 50 and 120 patients per day, these clinics hold enormous potential to improve public health. But the potential of the clinics extends even beyond healthcare, offering a potential hub for the distribution of grants, voting stations, counselling centres, sexual health education, gender-based violence support, and a refuge for women and children. Unlike traditional bricks-and-mortar buildings, these facilities can be delivered within the space of just three weeks. But perhaps the most important feature of African HERO is its beneficial financial advantages, avoiding unnecessary strain on public capex. “From my extensive experience in managing government budgets, I understand that the process is not easy, and that education and healthcare must compete with many other needs,” he says. “Our solution means that the Moti Group is essentially willing to invest the money for these facilities upfront ourselves, and instead agree on repayment terms with our various partners over a period of time.

This will ensure that we are able to have a quick and meaningful effect on communities, directly impacting the lives of ordinary people.“So, as governments and businesses partner with us, we believe that we can help to change the African story within the space of a few years. We have already begun speaking to various public officials, as well as big businesses and major CEOs to invite them to join us in a concerted effort to change the status quo.”As a result, discussions regarding the roll out of African HERO projects with the Zimbabwean authorities are already at an advanced stage.

The Moti Group will also be embarking on an investment roadshow with more potential partners in neighbouring countries including Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Swaziland, among others. “Ultimately, we believe that collaboration and public-private partnerships are vital to realising Africa’s promise as a continent, and finally helping to transform our communities and economies. Africa has the people and the natural resources needed to succeed – as leaders from the public and private sector, we simply need to focus on getting the basics right in terms of service delivery to unlock our potential.“African HERO exemplifies the type of innovation that is possible when we work together, with a creative win-win solution that benefits households, governments and businesses.”