Ruth Butaumocho, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur building a specialist rock drilling and blasting business

June 11, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Ruth Butaumocho, founder, Zalando Perfectors T/A Zalando Rock Drilling and Blasting (Zimbabwe)

Startup Story

Ruth Butaumocho is a 48 year old physically disabled entrepreneur who runs Zalando Perfectors T/A Zalando Rock Drilling and Blasting, a Zimbabwean based company that offers rock drilling and blasting services. She realized that there was a yawning gap in the market for prospective home owners and small companies that could not afford to engage big companies for blasting and drilling services. So, in 2013, Ruth bought a small diesel compressor and immediately started offering drilling and blasting services to individual property owners. Her hope is to grow the business so that it becomes a regional player in the sector.

Sewela Setshogoe, a South African growth-focused engineering entrepreneur

October 23, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Lefata Engineering, a growing specialist engineering and maintenance services and construction business

Sewela Basetsana Setshogoe is a South African entrepreneur operating in the traditionally tough and highly specialized engineering industry sector. She is the owner of Lefata Engineering, an engineering services and construction business which operates mainly within the mining and manufacturing industries. The business has been in operation for six years having launched in 2016, and harnesses the management team’s personal extensive engineering experience. Lefata Engineering currently employs 11 people, and has grown to undertake turnkey and high quality projects for large corporates and businesses across different sectors with a focus on the mining industry.

Greater focus required in the manufacturing sector

June 12, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content / Absa

As the fourth largest contributor to gross domestic product, manufacturing is a key sector to the country’s recovery plan and achieving our future growth by creating jobs and lessening the country’s reliance on imported products.

Absa is proud to be the Platinum Sponsor of the Manufacturing Indaba, which will take place on 21 and 22 June 2022 at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Gwendolyn Mahuma-Madida, a visionary in South Africa’s infrastructure sector

April 3, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Mahuma Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd, a South African investment business with interests in steel and infrastructure

Gwendolyn Mahuma-Madida is the CEO and founder of Mahuma Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd, otherwise known as MIH, a South African based investment company with interests in the steel and Infrastructure sectors. Gwen is equipped with an entrepreneurial spirit which has helped her in building a portfolio of investments in line with her vision of becoming a major player in the infrastructure sector by being a supplier and manufacturer of steel and concrete products to the rail, civils and general infrastructure sector.

Mayleen Kyster Nduli, an entrepreneurial pioneer of Africa’s steel industry

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Africa Steel Holdings, a boutique investment holding company in the steel and metals value chain

Mayleen Kyster Nduli is the founder of Africa Steel Holdings in South Africa, a boutique investment holding company with interest across the steel and metals value-chain. Her business ASH was founded on the foundation of her passion for the steel industry as well as her sound education and personal experience of 15 years in steel. Mayleen sits on various boards in her industry as either Non or Executive Director. Mayleen is passionate about woman empowerment and inclusion in all industries. Mayleen is a wife to Zano and mother to Rocco and Nala.

Esta van Heerden, a South African biotech leader in environmental clean-up

December 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Esta van Heerden, founder of iWater Pty Ltd (South Africa)

Startup Story

Many women entrepreneurs in Africa are driven to start their businesses because of an identified need. For Esta van Heerden, founder of iWater Pty Ltd in South Africa, she is passionate about the environment and wants to ensure that all citizens have access to clean water in the future. She also believes that companies that have contaminated the environment MUST clean it up! Her business is now offering companies a solution to this clean-up need, harnessing the best of technology solutions to aid the process.

Devaksha Maharaj, a South African engineering entrepreneur with a passion for STEAM education for kids

October 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Devaksha Maharaj, founder of Ikigai Engineering (South Africa)

Startup Story

Building a successful energy and electrical consulting company, Ikigai Engineering, drives South African entrepreneur Devaksha Maharaj on one level. But her passion for STEAM and the education of children has driven her to create her IKI KIDS, a business that teaches kids such subjects as engineering, mathematics, robotics and coding, creating a new generation of future STEAM specialists.

Pumza Ndlotyeni, a powerhouse driving South Africa’s energy future

February 2, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

One of the big challenges facing South Africa and the region is maintaining power supplies for business and consumers. To achieve that goal requires continual specialist engineering construction and maintenance services to be provided from highly professional and experienced businesses that have a track record in getting the job done. In South Africa, one such company bringing such specialist solutions to the table is Gebane Engineering Services. This fully integrated and innovative Black Woman Owned (BWO) engineering services company is headed up by entrepreneur Pumza Ndlotyeni, who is steering the company to new heights in the industry, continuously expanding its capabilities, knowledge, personnel and geographical footprint.

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