What started as a home improvement project during the COVID-19 lockdown has now become a thriving business in the Eastern Cape. Ahtis Paints, founded in 2022 by Sitha Letha, was born out of necessity and an entrepreneurial spirit. Faced with unemployment and the loss of a previous business, Letha saw an opportunity in an unfamiliar type of paint—gamazine—and turned it into a growing enterprise.
“I was stuck at home in Hamburg, Eastern Cape,” Letha recalls. “Our home, which is close to the sea, had not been painted for quite some time. My mother came home with this gamazine paint, which wasn’t common in the area. It’s popular in Johannesburg, but not here.” Gamazine paint is known for its durability when compared to other type of paint.
Witnessing the transformation of his home after the applying gamazine paint, he saw a gap in the local market. “I said to myself, ‘let me learn to do this thing so I can serve the Eastern Cape market.’ We can’t have people come all the way from Johannesburg just to apply paint.”
Determined to expand his knowledge, Letha moved to Johannesburg to gain firsthand experience in gamazine application and to find a supplier. “My plan was to find a supplier while these guys applied the paint, so I could continue learning.” This strategy worked, and soon he secured his first client. However, a new challenge arose—gamazine paint was too expensive for the average customer in rural areas.
Recognising a broader opportunity in the paint market, he expanded his knowledge further. He researched formulations and sourced suppliers of raw materials to manufacture a full range of paints, including wall, roof, and road-marking paints. “I then approached my younger brother and his business partners for a start-up loan. I got it and then paid for training,” he shares.
The journey of building Ahtis Paints has not been without difficulties. While learning to manufacture paint was a significant achievement, breaking into the market and attracting clients proved to be another challenge altogether.
Currently, Ahtis Paints operates from a store in Peddie, with its products. “Right now I market myself on Facebook and TikTok. I also attend exhibitions,” he said. Despite the challenges, Ahtis Paints has grown to employ four people, and Letha remains optimistic about the company’s future.
For more information, visit www.ahtispaints.co.za or call 087 822 1487. The store is located on 19 Victoria St, Peddie, Eastern Cape
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