Madela Alfred Makhubo started as a security guard seven years ago and worked his way up the ladder to become the fleet, operational manager.
Frankfort, South Africa (30 March 2022) – Determined and dedicated are two words one can easily use when describing Madela Alfred Makhubo. Beyond even those words, he is filled with passion and hope. He went from starting at Tip-Top Milk as a security guard to the operational manager of the company fleet, which is 80 drivers strong.
44-year-old Frankfort-local, Madela Alfred Makhubo, was earlier this year appointed as Operational Manager at Tip-Top Milk’s Koppies depot, a position in which he manages all logistical aspects of the business and trains and manages the company’s fleet of over 80 drivers.
Tip-Top Milk provides the Southern African dairy industry with milk logistic services and marketing of producers’ milk, while ensuring that the processes of collecting, sampling, testing, and delivering of the milk is timeous, safe and cost-effective for all.
Makhubo’s rise through Tip-Top Milk has humble beginnings as a security guard on a dairy farm who noticed that the drivers of the trucks collecting milk were particularly happy with their positions. He was intrigued by the brightly branded and always spotlessly clean Tip-Top Milk trucks.
“The drivers seemed to be so happy and taken care of in terms of rest, food, safety, health and training. I saw an opportunity to grow my skills and one day reached out to the CEO of Tip-Top Milk, the late Beyers de Bruin about becoming a driver,” said Makhubo.
Having lost his father when he was six years old and watching his mother struggle to support his family as a domestic worker, Makhubo was determined to make the most of his matric by creating a better life for his wife and two children.
“The company policy required drivers to have at least five years’ driving experience and a code 14 license; Mr de Bruin told me that if I got my license, he would see what he could do,” said Makhubo.
The requirements did little to dissuade Makhubo, and he returned eight months later with his license and was hired as a driver in 2015 – a decision that proved a fortuitous match. In just a year, Makhubo was promoted to Junior Controller and, in quick succession, saw several promotions, including to Senior Controller, then onto Fleet Tracking Manager, then Continuous Improvement Manager, and as of 2022, Operational Manager at Tip-Top Milk.
“My career journey has been so unexpected, and it is an honour to have been afforded the opportunity to grow in skills, experience and roles at Tip-Top Milk,” said Makhubo.
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A Global First for South Africa and Better Kidney CareMakhubo aims to teach his children and inspire young people trying to start a career for themselves with valuable lessons from his story.
“It’s important that young people understand that a career starts by taking small opportunities seriously. Work is scarce, and life is tough. If you do your best, good things will come over time,” says Makhubo.
Open to any opportunity life throws his way, Makhubo hopes to be able to own his own dairy farm one day and put his passion for the dairy industry into practice at a different level.
“Alfred made a strong impression from the first day he started working here. He quickly showed his worth by becoming the ‘go to man’ with everything regarding logistics. He proved to be very reliable and extremely good at his job. His relationship-building skills were unrivalled, not only opening doors to better managing our fleet’s drivers, but also in maintaining existing logistical relationships. He has become an integral part of our management team and a huge asset to our company. The late Beyers de Bruin certainly had an eye for talent,” said Dieter Jensch, General Manager Tip Top Milk.
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