This Entrepreneur’s Tenacity Led to His Success

After starting out as a cleaner, Alfred Challis rose to become the CEO of Manzi Water, a quickly expanding purified water company with more than 100 locations around South Africa.

His experience is a testament to the power of diligence and tenacity.

Challis’s narrative started in the Western Cape’s tiny town of Montagu, where he was raised until his parents divorced and he moved to Mossel Bay.

He told SA Good News that he quit school to pursue a college matriculation while pursuing his love of skating because he was eager to explore the working world. Due to his commitment to the extreme sport, he competed in a number of events, demonstrating his skill and tenacity.

Alfred’s resolve to overcome the obstacles of his early life and pursue success with unrelenting dedication was demonstrated by these early accomplishments.

When Challis first entered the workforce, he delivered pizzas, but he quickly found a job at a purified water retail establishment. His supervisors were impressed by his unrelenting work ethic there.

Through pure tenacity and a desire to learn, Challis climbed the ranks over more than 15 years.

His job during this time required him to go to places like Tshwane and eMalahleni, sometimes travelling with only a desk, bed, and sofa strapped onto the back of a Ford Bantam bakkie.

His personal life was disrupted by these frequent moves, which also put stress on his closest relationships.

Challis explained that every job he held has been a steppingstone.

“Every experience taught me something new, which strengthened my resolve to change the industry. Being the CEO of Manzi Water is a testament to what hard effort can achieve, not just a personal accomplishment,” he said.

Editor’s note: Having a good work ethic can lead to one being promoted at work but for Challis, this led to him starting his own company, selling bottled water that has been purified.

Description: At Manzi Water, a rapidly growing purified water company with over 100 outlets around South Africa, Alfred Challis climbed to the position of CEO.

Editor: Thato Mahlangu

Project manager: Do4SA