Women the focus at FASA’s conference

July 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

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As the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) prepares to host the first virtual conference since before the pandemic on the 25th and 26th August, aimed at reviewing, resetting and reviving the franchise sector, the narrative of the success of franchising in South Africa is one that inspires the possibilities of this business system gaining momentum not just in South Africa, but also in the rest of Africa. South Africa stands out as the only country in Africa that embraced the franchising model way back in the 1960s and built it into the formidable business sector that has created 800 business brands operating through over 48 000 outlets and employing around half a million people.

Women pick up the baton to future success

July 11, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Women across the world have borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic and in many cases have been disproportionately impacted. A staggering 87% of women business owners said that they had been adversely affected, according to the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE). If there is one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed without any doubt, it’s the resilience and tenacity of women across the globe, from all walks of life and in every imaginable socio-economic setting.

Manufacturing Sector Working Capital Cycles: What entrepreneurs should be planning for

June 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Business conditions are improving but supply chain frictions remain

This week the latest Absa Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data showed further evidence of the continued recovery of the sector with the PMI improving to 57.8 in May. This is the tenth consecutive month that the Absa PMI has been above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion and contraction and shows some promising resilience in the sector. Output and new sales orders continue to see strong reads in this survey.

Innovation and Technology: the Future of Agriculture

May 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

The world faces opposing challenges, feeding just under 10 billion people by 2050, whilst also minimizing the effect of this on our planet. To meet these challenges innovation and technology plays a key role in generating efficiencies and conserving scarce resources.

An account that grows with your business

May 16, 2021 Melanie Hawken

In a move aimed at transforming the banking experience for businesses, Absa has launched a brand-new transactional account called Business Evolve Zero. Specifically designed for sole proprietors’ businesses, it comes with no monthly account fee.

Vhongani Shumba, a South African entrepreneur building a gourmet flavoured butter brand

May 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

For all those cooks who want to bring extra flavour into their meals, Mi Butter, founded by entrepreneur Vhongani Shumba in South Africa has the answer in a jar. Vhongani is the founder and CEO of mi butter SA, founded in 2016, a proudly local woman-led company introducing the market to the world of flavoured butters. She is a marketing and brand manager by day and small business developer by night. Vhongani has brought her company to life by her own hard work and tenacity, and today is involved in the daily operations of the business, providing strategic insights and ensuring that the quality of mi butter meets customers’ expectations.

Sarah Motshwane Sebetola, a South African corporate branding solutions specialist

May 2, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Sarah Motshwane Sebetola, co-founder, Tshepiso Branding Solutions

Every business and organisation needs to get its brand message across to its customers and audiences, and to ensure it has that all important visibility in the marketplace. In South Africa, Tshepiso Branding Solutions, cofounded by Sarah Motshwane Sebetola, is a company bringing both brand expertise and solutions to suit all needs.

Thokozile Mangwiro, a South African premium quality, natural hair care product manufacturer

April 25, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Thokozile Mangwiro, founder, Nilotiqa (South Africa)

It is in growing her own natural hair for the past 15 years that Thokozile Mangwiro found her inspiration to create a natural hair care product line. After going to several salons and an endless search of locally produced products that truly work for afro natural hair, it was clear that there was a HUGE gap in the market for professionally formulated products for natural hair. Thokozile, like many other women, struggled with extremely dry hair. This, and the lack of knowledge, led to intense research and experimentation with natural ingredients such as Shea butter and avocado oil for skin and hair. After several years of research, formulations and product testing, Thokozile launched Nilotiqa, a line of products that are proudly made from organic and naturally formed ingredients to deeply moisturize and nourish natural hair.

Indrani Govender, a construction business founder, creating jobs and changing lives

April 18, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Indrani Govender, founder, Ricinz Construction (South Africa)

Indrani Govender is the founder and owner of Ricinz Construction, a business established in 2010 in South Africa which today employs 20 people. The single mother of two boys, Indrani is an award winning entrepreneur recognized for her business and the number of jobs she has created in the community. Her passion is to uplift women and youth and ensure a better life for those who have given up on life. She now strives to create wealth for all her employees.

Gladys Kgorane, a South African agripreneur supplying farm fresh produce to her customers

April 11, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Gladys Kgorane, founder, Caleb's Farm (South Africa)

Gladys Kgorane is the founder and owner of Caleb's farm in Potchefstroom, South Africa, a niche agri business that supplies farm fresh products, eggs, free range chickens, sheep packages and pork packages for its customers. As a family oriented entrepreneur, Gladys is married with three children, she started her farming business on her smallholding back in 2013. Today she has seen it grow substantially from those early days, and now supplies 30 trays of eggs daily to customers, in addition to a wide range of farm fresh meat and fresh vegetables.

Shamilah Damons, a South African data scientist helping companies with their digital solutions

April 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Shamilah Damons, founder, Shammah Innovative Solutions (South Africa)

Shammah Innovative Solutions is an information technology company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is an EME with 100% black women ownership and Level 1 B-BBEE rating. Shammah aims to provide digital solutions to small and large companies. Data is currently considered as any organisation's most valuable commodity, and Shammah’s goal is to use intelligent data processing techniques to provide integrated business solutions that deliver accurate, efficient and timely results.

Nondumiso Pikashe, a South African entrepreneur creating a proud indigenous wine brand (2021)

March 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Nondumiso Pikashe, founder of Ses’fikile Wines (South Africa) — **Nondumiso Pikashe**, founder of Ses’fikile Wines (South Africa)

Exciting things are happening in South Africa’s winelands with a new generation of entrepreneurs making great wines for the local and global market place and building new brands to watch. Ses’fikile Wines, founded by Nondumiso Pikashe, is one such brand with high aspirations.

Millicent Motsoeri, a South African entrepreneur making vacations affordable for working people

March 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Everyone loves to take a vacation during the year, but often when the time comes to stop work and take a trip, funds can be in short supply. In South Africa, entrepreneur Millicent Motsoeri, co-founder of Heita Ngamla Holidays, has created a vehicle for customers to pre-pay for their vacations over time, making them more accessible to everyone.

Emelia Maliti-Ntshwe, a South African entrepreneur manufacturing and retailing unique furniture

March 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Emelia Maliti-Ntshwe, owner of Hands of Ru Haus Interiors (South Africa)

Emelia Maliti-Ntshwe is a South African entrepreneur and the owner of Hands of Ru Haus Interiors, otherwise known as Ru Haus Furniture Manufacturers, which she launched in 2016. The business has a factory in Mahikeng and showroom in Hartbeesport. Emelia has a background in communications having studied for her BA Communications and Masters Of Business Administration (MBA) In Leadership And Human Resource. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, she ventured into the field of training in Internal Communications, Public Relations, and Leadership Skills, extending her passion for Women And Youth empowerment. She gives talks to graduate and post-graduate students at Universities, Women In Government Departments, and the youth within her community. Emelia also volunteers serving as Chair on the Mahikeng Campus Alumni Support Committee Of The North West University (NWU). She has been recognised with many accolades for her work over the years including being the winner of the prestigious NWU Alumni Awards In Business Leadership 2019, and the winner in Productivity South Africa’s Regional Awards 2019 For Best Emerging Sector: Manufacturing, for her company Hands Of Ru Furniture Manufacturers.

Lesego Seloane and Dinah Kgeledi, two South African entrepreneurs turning a passion for botany and horticulture into a thriving landscaping business

February 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lesego Seloane & Dinah Kgeledi, co-founders, Ronewa Creations (South Africa)

Lesego Seloane and Dinah Kgeledi are co-founders of Ronewa Creations Ltd (Pty) in South Africa. This is a family business between a niece and her aunt, respectively. Lesego has a background in Botany, having completed her studies in Biochemistry and Botany at the University of Johannesburg. While Dinah has a background in the corporate world, working in the IT field using her Diploma in IT. She worked for various companies before resigning from her corporate career to fully pursue landscaping as her passion. Once Lesego completed her studies at university, she went into landscaping and Dinah followed too, having studied a few courses in landscaping design and horticulture. The passion they have for plants comes from Lesego’ s gran, Dinah's Mother, who has an eclectic small garden in Soweto. So the two have always seen her tend to her garden over the years and been inspired by her work. They are passionate about creating beautiful spaces for their clients.

Olga Mundangepfupfu, a South African entrepreneur building a niche software consulting business

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Olga Mundangepfupfu, founder of CM Solutions (South Africa)

Companies large and small know that harnessing the power of technology to get business done can pay dividends, but getting the right tools and advice is key. In South Africa, Olga Mundangepfupfu, founder of specialist software consulting and data management business, CM Solutions, has the solutions to meet every need.

Phumzile Mthembu, a South African entrepreneur inspired to create a natural baby skin care brand

February 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Phumzile Mthembu, founder of PureB Baby Care (South Africa)

Inspired by her son who was diagnosed with eczema as a baby, South African entrepreneur Phumzile Mthembu created a natural baby skincare brand, PureB Baby Care, providing a solution to her own family and many others too. Today, her company Ingcweti (Pty) Ltd, trading as PureB Baby Care, is a wholly black-owned manufacturing company that specializes in producing coconut oil based baby ointments that are 100% natural and without harmful chemicals.

Rebecca Tshuma, a South African foodpreneur focused on supplying fresh produce to customers

February 7, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Rebecca Tshuma, founder of Becks Foods (South Africa)

From major food retailers to the hospitality industry, commercial customers look for reliable, high quality, fresh produce suppliers to meet their needs. In South Africa, Rebecca Tshuma, founder of Becks Foods, is building a reputation for supplying some of the freshest, healthiest produce direct from the farm.

Silungile Mokoena, a South African fashion designer creating much needed manufacturing jobs

January 31, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Silungile Mokoena, founder of Sluvin Designs (South Africa)

Silungile Mokoena is the passion-driven founder and CEO of Sluvin Designs a fashion house based in the city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The business was established in 1999 and now employs 6 full time employees and up to 10 part-time employees, contributing to the growth of the sector in the city. It also outsources some of the company’s accessory production to more than 15 women who specialize in beadwork and work from the comfort of their homes mainly in rural areas.

Noushinah Ganey, a South African entrepreneur passionate about wellness and aesthetics

January 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Noushinah Ganey, founder of Cowey Park Pharmacy & Skin Time Aesthetic Clinic (South Africa)

Noushinah Ganey is the Founder and Managing Director of Cowey Park Pharmacy and Skin Time Aesthetic Clinic. She has been a part of the Aesthetic industry for 18 years and the pharmaceutical industry for 5 years. She has been interviewed on many radio platforms and been a TV personality for 2 years hosting a weekly lifestyle show targeted at females. Noushinah was also recently selected to participate as a panelist for an International Cosmeceutical Company.

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