SME-REVIEW MAGAZINE

SMEREVIEW

LETTER EDITOR'S

The moment has finally arrived – the launch of SME Review Magazine! We couldn't be more thrilled to bring you this digital publication that is dedicated to showcasing the incredible world of small and medium-sized enterprises. Our magazine is designed to provide a platform for entrepreneurs, both seasoned and aspiring, to share their stories, insights, and expertise.

In this edition, you'll discover inspiring success stories from women in business who have defied the odds and achieved remarkable milestones. We believe in celebrating their achievements and shining a light on their journeys as they navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.

But why did we choose Women's Month for our launch? Well, it's simple – we want to pay homage to the trailblazing women who are making waves in various industries. This month is all about recognizing their contributions and empowering others through their stories.

In addition to highlighting successful entrepreneurs, we aim to provide practical advice, tips, and resources that can help SMEs thrive in today's competitive landscape. From marketing strategies to financial management tips, our goal is to equip you with valuable knowledge that will fuel your business growth.

So whether you're an established entrepreneur looking for fresh perspectives or someone dreaming of starting your own venture someday, SME Review Magazine promises something for everyone. Join us as we embark on this exciting journey together!

LUNGA KAKAZA EDITOR IN CHIEF

CONTRIBUTORS

Founder & Editor in Chief

Lunga Kakaza

Info@houseofkumkanimedia co za

Content Creator

Mbali Mbatha

Mbali@houseofkumkanimedia co za

Content Creator

Mthokozisi Mthethwa

Mthokozisi@houseofkumkanimedia co za

Sales Director

Thabang Kobue

Thabang.kobue@houseofkumkanimedia.co.za

Sales Executive

Smangele Ndlendla

smangele@houseofkumkanimedia co za

Publisher

House Of Kumkani media

www houseofkumkanimedia co za

advertise@sme-reviewmag co za

WESTERN CAPE AND JSE PARTNER TO ACCELERATE SMES

Western Cape Government’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) came together in a multiyear SME development programme to stimulate the growth of the SME sector in the province

Western Cape minister of finance and economic opportunities, Mireille Wenger, said, “It is a great pleasure to officially launch the SME Accelerator Programme, a unique collaboration with the public and private sector, between the highly esteemed Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the Western Cape Government (WCG), to ensure that a targeted 100 small and medium-sized businesses have access to the expertise they need to expand and to create many more jobs in South Africa.”

The three-year programme will focus on numerous initiatives to facilitate the development and growth of SMEs in the province The first year (2023) will focus on a capital matching initiative where SMEs will be introduced to capital providers who are interested in funding SME businesses in their growth phases.

Three phase initiative

There are three phases in the initiative: recruitment of SMEs, capital or investor readiness support for the SMEs, and an event in Cape Town where SMEs will get the opportunity to present their investment cases to investors for funding consideration

“Small and medium-sized businesses are the heart and soul of our economy If they succeed so too does our economy. I welcome all initiatives and measures that help SMEs realise their full potential," said Premier Alan Winde.

Facilitating access to capital

"The JSE is focused on making a continuous meaningful contribution to the country’s national agenda and economy We devote significant resources in our business to provide tangible solutions to fast-track SME growth and facilitate access to capital," said JSE group CEO, Leila Fourie.

"This new initiative with the WCG is a significant aspect of the JSE’s strategy to align our activities and services with the needs of our clients and country We will continue to work tirelessly to collaborate with the government to bring enhanced services that can add much-needed value to economic growth."

“At the very heart of our ambitious economic plan, G4J is the understanding that it is the private sector, and particularly, citizens, entrepreneurs, and SMMEs, that create jobs. To put it simply: it is the private sector that creates jobs, and it is our job as government, to make this as easy as possible. I look forward to tracking the progress of this exciting collaboration, as well as the benefits and expansion of those SMEs participating. There is much to look forward to,” concluded Wenger

INTERVIEW WITH LORNELLE JONAS

Spreading Financial Education and Workplace Positivity

With the accounting industry being saturated by similar companies, Lornelle Jonas says entrepreneurship was never part of her “plan” as at the time she had no clue what she would do differently But once the wheels of Elique Advisory were set in motion, Lornelle knew that the end goal was to not remain just another small entity

She saw a gap in transformation, noticing that there was no access and skills were but minimal even in an industry drenched with well-educated accountants

In essence, E'lique Advisory is a professional services firm specializing in accounting, tax, and advisory services to help clients achieve their financial goals and succeed in their respective industries

Their services include accounting, taxation, company secretarial, advisory, and assurance. In an economy where women are one of the groups most affected by unemployment, Lornelle, and her team have partnered with the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa to establish an online learning platform known as the FundHer Learning Hub which includes the successful onboarding of 250 womenowned SMMEs onto accounting software..

With such an inspired approach to business, it is no surprise that E'lique Advisory has gone on to be the first ever 100% femaleowned Xero Platinum Partner, which speaks to Lornelle and her team’s level of expertise as Xero Platinum is a cooperative of top industry specialists

Lornelle Jonas

CEO : E’lique Advisory

As a Black-owned company, the biggest motivation for the E'lique Advisory team is impacted. For them, success is measured by the impact of growth in their clients’ relationship with finances Their client base also comprises of freelancers and independent workers who often struggle to buy property even when they make sufficient income The available financial information is not relatable, particularly in a country whose economy makes it almost impossible for residents to save and keep up with their life policy premiums Lornelle’s approach to financial education is for her clients to set targets and for the Elique Advisory team to hold them accountable.

Through E'lique Advisory, Lornelle has also taken the crucial step of hosting masterclasses for small businesses One of the biggest hindrances is getting help from accountants who don’t have a solid plan around financial education “Very often you will find SMEs enquiring about VAT when they are not even VAT vendors, this speaks volumes about the gaps in financial education. “ says Lornelle.

A lot of South African entrepreneurs look to government for funding and other assistance because they simply are not aware of the other avenues at their disposal; which is where these masterclasses become very helpful In today’s world, it is also crucial for entrepreneurs to be armed with the technological skills to market and promote their businesses and to also take their businesses seriously as these are quite often a legacy for one’s future family tree As a leader, Lornelle does not believe in micromanagement but is instead a visionary trailblazer who believes that giving carte blanche to her team is what enables them to thrive

Her open-door policy gives her team the flexibility to be problem solvers who do not need their hands to be held in order to perform at their supreme

“Giving your people independence is a great catalyst to positive mental health in the workplace.”

Any psychology enthusiast would agree that leaders who have a keen interest in their teams’ mental health will inevitably produce a positive outcome both in the teams’ personal and professional lives

Considering how those fortunate enough to have jobs spend the bulk of their time at work, it becomes imperative to ensure that this place that takes up most of their time is not a source of depression and anxiety that leads to people dreading every new sunrise as it would serve as a reminder that once again they have to step into the gates of their personal hell

“People don’t even believe that I am a CEO because more than anything I try to retain my humility and to treat people with the utmost dignity,” says the powerhouse female entrepreneur Lornelle who identifies as relatable and prides herself in personally knowing and engaging each employee (although that is not her favourite word) even including the security guards

The significance of this is that security guards in most workplaces are seen and treated as the very bottom of the food chain, a perspective that has no place at Elique Advisory. The unfortunate belief about female Bosses being the Devil’s incarnate was born from how a lot of women in corporate spaces tend to get more support from their male counterparts than fellow females.

Lornelle says that in this regard, her role is to create a different narrative and drive the power of the saying “A win for one Sister is a win for all Sisters” She absolutely does not believe that there may only be one as she feels the pie is big enough for everyone to be able to enjoy a big enough piece. One of her strategies is the mental health days that she usually has with her team where they do a check in with one another regarding how they are feeling This speaks volumes about her position on how the human element is most important.

Very often a leader will encounter a female employee who enters the workplace already pregnant with the anticipation for toxicity because as people we have normalized workplace venomousness People are not used to being treated with respect in the boardroom, which breeds workers that have no clue how to respond to the type of positivity with which leaders of Lornelle’s calibre approach their people

“The most significant lesson for me has been discovering just how good I am at navigating unchartered territory” Lornelle’s advice to prospective entrepreneurs is self-validation because nobody else can validate another person’s journey. She encourages people to do that which they love as she sees happiness is the cousin of passion The evidence of this is how people will only believe you when they see the fruits of your labour and if passion is the driver behind that labour the fruit can never be anything but sweet

By : Mbali Mbatha

By: Mbali Mbatha

TASHLINE JOOSTE’S TRUSTWORTHY ENDEAVOUR TO SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED SMMES

The philanthropist in Tashline Jooste was awakened when she noted the lack of support for Black-owned SMMEs in South Africa

It emerged during her research that entrepreneurs in the country were (and still are) developing a keen interest in STEM-based companies.

However, the success of emerging technology companies in particular was being hindered by how a lot of business owners were struggling in the areas of funding, business acumen, technical skills, and infrastructure support among others.

Tashline’s thirst for seeing Black businesses thriving would ultimately lead to the establishment of Innovator Trust whose mandate is to facilitate training that develops their skills as business owners and provides necessary resources and mentorship

In 2014, telecommunications giant, Vodacom, known for championing South African entrepreneurs, established the Innovator Trust to be a beacon of empowerment for the growth of SMMEs in the ICT sector Tashline has been at the helm of the organisation since, executing on the bold vision and mandate She continues to drive impact in the lives of entrepreneurs with her passion and humanitarian spirit.

Qualifying entrepreneurs can apply for the Innovator Trust Enterprise Development Program in order to benefit from Tashline and her team’s expertise in business sustainability training which has been making a meaningful impact in the SMME ICT sector for close to a decade under her leadership. In order to qualify, ICT companies that have been in business for 2 years or longer must be 51% Black owned This inclusive program welcomes applications not only from businesses that have proven to be fruitful but even those that have the potential, vision, and desire to grow

The ICT powerhouse that is Innovator Trust has successfully incubated over 100 sustainable ICT-based SMMEs. Tashline and her team’s expertise and dedication have been the driving force behind the growth of these companies from start-ups to small, medium, and for some even big entities.

The team’s direct interaction with entrepreneurs has brought them to the realisation that business owners are not merely in the pursuit of handouts, but rather, are hungry for guidance on how to navigate the business environment in ways that breed prosperity in their entrepreneurship journeys

There is a misconception that the only steep hill for SMMEs is funding but in reality, they also battle with skills training and accreditation, compliance, infrastructure, and access to opportunities The team at Innovator Trust has been able to position themselves as industry leaders in their ability to train entrepreneurs to not just survive the trials and tribulations of the business world but to equip them with the necessary skills to respond with innovative solutions that make a tangible difference. Entrepreneurs that are fortunate enough to make the cut into these programs are taught how to contend in competitive markets and deliver at levels similar to those of major ICT corporations.

The average South African today can no longer ignore or deny the dishevelment that load shedding has thrown into our lives and our current economic state is such that small businesses are bearing the biggest brunt of this misfortune as it puts a damper on their ability to maintain operations and productivity.".

The rising fuel costs, interest rate, and the aftermath of Covid-19 all have a severe impact on the mental health of entrepreneurs,” says Tashline who also believes that limited access to funding, market access, and cashflow remain some of the major challenges facing small business owners in our country today. Through her and her team’s years of working with SMMEs in the ICT sector, Tashline now has a deeper understanding of the importance of opening up business owners, to greater access to business acumen, as this is a winning formula for accessing the knowledge base that is the cornerstone of

Running one’s business optimally and efficiently. When starting a business, the end goal is usually for that business to be sustainable so that its impact on people’s lives can outlive the founders and more importantly for the employees to be able to maintain their livelihood, especially in our crippled economy. Employment creation continues to be the most crucial element of entrepreneurship in South Africa

Tashline’s well-informed professional opinion and greatest concern to date is how little a lot of businesses have transformed (if at all), digitally Realistically though, how can businesses attain this conspicuously necessary digital transformation when the capital to introduce technological assistance in their businesses in order to successfully compete in today’s digital era is virtually nonexistent?

Ironically, technological advances are fast becoming many a young person’s redemption from the clutches of unemployment as they attempt to meet their financial requirements. One of the best things about the modern world is how access to technology literally being at your fingertips enables us to utilize digital platforms for viable businesses.

“The Innovator Trust Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) focuses on giving tech entrepreneurship training to matriculated, unemployed youth specifically as a means to alleviate the alarming unemployment rate among South African youth and also to show them within a guided environment, how they can utilize technology to become entrepreneurs”

In Tashline and her team’s experience, the technological advances over the past two decades have taken us all down a path that Bob Kahn and Vince Cerf could have never anticipated when they first embarked on their respective internet innovation journeys. It is undeniable that one way or another, every single industry that exists in today’s world has somehow been affected by information communication technologies.

These advances have brought about very welcomed changes in the lives of entrepreneurs as they have brought about growth, increased efficiencies, productivity, and new solutions.

TEMODIGITAL’S TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS IMPACTLIVES

AninterviewwithWahseemaMillerByMbali

Mbatha

WAHSEEMAMILLER

Wahseema Miller and the Temo Digital team pride themselves in providing their clients with solutions that are geared towards addressing business and social needs. When they were invited to join the Innovator Trust SMME incubation program 3 years ago, the team became enlightened to just how limitless their prosperity would become simply by holding each other accountable for their employment creation objectives. Since the start of their relationship with Innovator Trust, the Temo Digitalteamhastransformedfromjusta30%female representationtoanimpressive58%!

“Our journey with Innovator Trust has been helpful even when we did not realise the shifts that were actually happening. This relationship has given us access to great networks, practical learningsandreallybeingguidedinourrolesasentrepreneurs”

The young talent that makes up the Temo Digital family comprises of 50% formally trained ICT professionals, while the other 50% joined the family as interns/graduatesandhavebeensuccessfullymentoredintoprogressiveroles.

“We’re fun, there’s lots of ideas between us and since we have adopted (and have collectively been trained on Agile methodology) we’ve definitely seen business maturity and faster turnaround time The efficiency that comes with workingasacollectiveisverysatisfying”saysleaderWahseemaMiller.

She and her team define themselves as possessing the superpower of simplicity in the methods they use to provide a positive user experience and secure access for the clients who have entrusted their businesses with them

Wahseema reckons that the uniqueness of her team lies in their strong consulting background, with some of the members having proven their skills through their success in large-scale transformation. This experience has enhanced the team’s customer centricity, which allows them to tailor their bespoke solutions in such a way that while addressing their clients’ needs they do not stray away from industry standards and the latest tech trends. Their approach to technology being a means to simplify and declutter gave them the brilliant idea of upskilling their clients and giving them a sense of ownership of the solutions created by the team A lot of businesses would avoid this approach like the plague because cutting the umbilical cord of dependency on service providers is not a seed they would want to plant in the minds of their clients

At the top of her voice, Wahseema sings the praises of founder, Russell Miller whose mentorship under the parent company Tempo Consulting was able to take the team of 5 through the baby steps that would in time lead to unbelievable growth.

Today Temo Digital has grown to be the home of 32 team members. She goes on to state that she attributes her team’s success to the trust that they have all grown to have in one another over the years No person and certainly no company that existed in 2020 will ever be able to tell their life story without relaying how the pandemic nearly flipped their lives upside down.

Temo Digital is no exception according to Wahseema who shares how they have not been able to do any outreach work since the pandemic hit.

But with her team that is ever ready and willing to give back to the community whose support has been the backbone of their success, will be kicking off their 1000 Women In Tech Program at the end of this year, 2023 For now, the program will be based in Cape Town and those who wish to apply should be able to make the commute Through the program, she and her team intend to empower women with basic technology skills to curb the “required experience” challenge that graduates often face when seeking employment.

ADDRESS:

Katlego Malatji’s Dedication To Touching Lives Through Engineering

By : Mbali Mbatha

ProjectOne Engineering’s young and vibrant CEO Katlego Malatji strongly agrees with other entrepreneurs about the market access that getting into bed with Innovator Trust has opened them up to by introducing them to industry market leaders. Open as they might be to growth, business owners are not always aware of which areas in particular they need to give high focus on in order to take their businesses to greater heights, which is one of the reasons why Katlego appreciates the guidance and support of Innovator Trust.

Pretoria-based ProjectOne Engineering is a company that builds their client up from the design to the actual construction of their manufacturing facilities. They also have training and mentorship programs where they upskill their clients as a means to maximize their productivity

Katlego and her team have innovated ways to incorporate ICT into their engineering solutions in futuristic ways, bringing her artificial intelligence and virtual reality experience obtained from the United States of America as well as the United Kingdom into South African manufacturing companies.

Katlego is a pro-woman leader who has always ensured that a skills balance within her team is maintained across both genders. As the world evolves, more and more women are graduating across all the fields of engineering but opportunities themselves still remain male-centric, which is why Katlego has given herself as well as her team the responsibility to not shut the doors of opportunity to female engineers.

“We also have internships for engineering graduates who are keen on gaining practical working experience

One of our passions is to capacitate STEM graduates through the mentorship programs that we have on offer” says the solutions-driven leader who is determined to give graduates employability status as much as she is also giving them all the ammunition that can help them get the ball running should they have entrepreneurship aspirations. Giving back sits very closely to Katlego’s heart as someone who has been fortunate enough to be exposed to big engineering corporations across South African borders. Girls in STEM particularly are of high interest to Katlego who says that there are girls in disadvantaged communities who excel in STEM subjects at the High School level but do not necessarily have enough access to information to have a clear picture of just how much opportunity there is in STEM careers.

She and her team have undertaken to visit both primary and high schools in order to educate girls about various STEM career opportunities. They also visit University students as they have found that some Engineering and STEM students are not so informed about what actually awaits them in the real world once they obtain their qualifications. “I did not see a female engineer until I was doing my in-service training

I feel that as a young student, coming into contact and interacting with someone who is living your aspirations solidifies everything.” says Katlego who goes on to highlight the possible impact of bringing back initiatives like the Take a Girl Child to Work under a STEM banner as girls generally already have access to females working in teaching, nursing, etc. The general consensus is that there is an opportunity for corporates and SMMEs to collaborate in finding creative ways to introduce young girls to STEM careers because the skills transfers between corporates and SMMEs that are actually practicing within STEM can go a long way in preparing girls for life after University.

Katlego and her team have been recognized through awards in the Engineering industry but what has really warmed her heart is being able to create employment and giving back to the community. Although the number of girls that have been mentored and the companies that have been impacted by ProjectOne Engineering can be quantified, Katlego says that individual success stories are what urges her to never stop.

MAHLANGU’S TECHNICAL STRIDES FOR EMPLOYMENT CREATION AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Synergy Trading and Projects founder Nompumelelo Mahlangu’s relationship with Innovator Trust dates back to 2020 when she submitted an application that she did not in her wildest dreams imagine would be approved

The training of staff around health and safety is the biggest cost in the technical spaces within which Synergy is rooted, and the support from Innovator Trust in this regard was most welcome to Mpumi and her team.

The training budget offered by Innovator Trust is to the effect of R30 000’s worth of support which also comprises Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Mpumi is also a beneficiary of Innovator Trust’s Ithuba Program for the year 2023. This program is centered around equipping the beneficiaries with skills in sales, branding and marketing, and social media. They go so far as to assist their beneficiaries in the production of promotional videos and in these times when the entire world is all but digital, promotional videos are fast becoming some of the most widely used marketing tools

In 2022 alone Nompumelelo won four of Innovator Trusts’s prestigious awards, positioning herself as one of the biggest brains in South African entrepreneurship today Among those awards was Best Employment Creator, which is a huge deal considering the spike in unemployment statistics in our country over recent years Through Synergy Trading and Projects’ happy and successful relationship with Innovator Trust, Nompulelo’s company has embarked on a business relationship with Vodacom as one of the telecommunications giant’s top service providers.

At its inception back in 2015, Mpumi's company was known as Synergy Telecommunications and was initially the brainchild of Mpumi and her then-partner Unpredictable as life has always been known to be, the business partnership turned sour within a matter of months with Mpumi’s partner deciding to become an employee as opposed to part owner prior to his subsequent permanent exit from the business.

Still being in corporate spaces herself, Mpumi felt that emotionally and psychologically at the time she was not ready to take the business bull by its horns and opted to remain a corporate Sister.

However, in 2020, a much stronger and even more determined Mpumi came to the resolve that it was time to shut her then employer’s laptop down for good and embark on a journey to rebrand and give what was to become Synergy Trading and Projects a hundred percent of her time and attention and once her eyes were on the ball there was no stopping Mpumi.

Rebranding meant also moving with the times Technology made massive advances between 2015 and 2020 and if Mpumi was going to make a success of Synergy, she would have to steer the company towards other verticals within ICT as opposed to just supplying batteries and being a solely telecommunications-based entity. She now installs equipment for Vodacom’s private as well as corporate clients, offers maintenance services, and also supplies cables and network material. “The greatest lesson out of the Covid pandemic was how the point of technology is to make things more effective.

“The greatest challenge for me was wearing the HR, accountant, operations, administration hat among many others in the beginning and outsourcing eventually became my best friend. This helped me grow immensely both professionally and personally because now when I outsource the skills that I do not possess I know exactly what to look for, and my selfconfidence has also grown to a point where I am no longer apologetic when speaking about the success of my business. The fact that I have achieved so much is evidence that I am doing something right” concludes the founder of a company that has grown to be a trusted brand because of Mpumi and her team’s ability to listen attentively to client feedback.

By: Mbali Mbatha

7 BEST SMALL BUSINESS FUNDING SOURCES IN SOUTH AFRICA

DTI funding for small business

One of the best options to consider is the DTI fund It is a collection of funding schemes that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) makes available to South Africans with new business ventures and those with already existing ones

Much of the funding schemes take the form of loans and grants, with a few being set up as cost-sharing incentives Some of the options under the DTI fund include the Agro-Processing Support Scheme (APSS), Automotive Investment Scheme (AIS), Business Process Services (BPS), Support Program for Industrial Innovation (SPII), the Critical Infrastructure Program (CIP), and the Manufacturing Investment Programme (MIP) Those seeking DTI funding for a small business can begin their applications by visiting the department's official website

The NYDA (National Youth Development Agency) Grant Programme is designed to provide young entrepreneurs with an opportunity to access both financial and non-financial business development support to enable them to establish or grow their businesses

Besides the financial assistance, the non-financial services provided by the NYDA include mentoring, cooperative development, business management programmes, and consultancy services The maximum amount of funding for a small business one can receive in a single cycle is R250,000

Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA)

This agency was set up to foster the establishment and growth of Small and Medium Enterprises. SEFA provides development finance to SMEs and Cooperatives that are not able to attract commercial credit.

SEFA grants, loans, and other forms of business development financing range between R50,000 and R5 million

NYDA

Isivande Women's Fund (IWF)

This is one of the South African government's financial assistance schemes It is an exclusive fund that aims to accelerate women's economic empowerment by providing more affordable, usable, and responsive finance than is currently available The IWF is targeted at businesses that are wholly or majorly womenowned

The fund provides financing ranging from R30,000 to R2 million An individual or business seeking the Isivande Women's Fund begins by making an application that fund managers review before the funds can be released

Khula Enterprise Finance

Khula is a South African state-owned enterprise that was established in 1996 to focus on promoting and developing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) While the body does not give out loans and grants directly, it makes it possible for deserving individuals and enterprises to get funding from other South African financial institutions

Besides providing government small business funding, the body also provides mentorship to entrepreneurs, helping them to manage their businesses successfully

Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA)

You need funding upfront; you need it within hours Funding for your business is one of the most important financial choices you’ll make As a business owner, you know this

But when seeking business funding, you don’t want to risk your assets, right? And you want to use the funding as you need it You want to be able to pay it back in a way that matches your business turnover You want a funding solution that is on your terms, that you can control You want options You want business funding that is unsecured, unrestricted, flexible, and safe – with the support of our expertise

Retail Capital business funding opens your eyes to possibilities and empowers you to seize them

PENNY MKHIZE'S ENERGY SOLUTIONS SET TO PUT AFRICA ON

THE MAP

What if there was a viable alternative to solar power, especially in a country like South Africa, where unemployment is rife and the majority of the employed population is barely surviving?

Solution driven entrepreneur Penelope Mkhize and her team are on their way to becoming South Africa’s darlings and saving grace with plans to install hydro power stations.

In layman’s terms, hydro power stations are the use of rivers or damn water to generate electricity These power stations can be generally classified under one of three groups, impoundment, diversion, and pumped storage.

In South Africa particularly, the introduction of hydropower stations is guaranteed to have a direct positive impact on our ongoing fight against unemployment as the installation of these power stations is bound to create hundreds of job opportunities across all of our 9 provinces

The company PenCT may sound like an answer to South Africans’ prayers against load shedding but the birth of this entity is actually an answer to the prayers of a divorced single mother of three who is a domestic violence and gender-based violence survivor Penny Mkhize’s response to the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband is the epitome of what South Africans mean by Mbokodo

In the thick of abuse and her children’s lives being turned upside down to the point of being removed from school,

“We want to address the needs of society under #1Africa,1Civilization so that rural communities do not get left behind but are also beneficiaries of development The Department of Education is interested in partnering with us as we feel it is important to introduce technology as early as primary school level. The value of Pen CT is that we want the community to see renewable energy as a business and groom them to actually embark on their own entrepreneurial journey in this sector”

instead of succumbing to a victim mentality, she dusted herself, picked herself up, and embarked on an entrepreneurial journey that would lead to her setting up PenCT which evolved from her previous establishment Pencil Enterprize Penny’s hard work has not gone unnoticed as she has been recognized in the Top 10 Females in ICT twice

In addition to this, Empower Her also recognized her as a finalist in entrepreneurship The government of South Africa has also opened up an extremely significant door by recommending Pen CT to the European Development Fund. I say extremely significant because this fund is very exclusive and in order to be recommended to them, one has to be a major key player in their industry

The success of hydropower stations has been proven worldwide, with major countries such as China, Brazil, and Canada being among many nations that continue to enjoy its reliability.

If all goes according to plan, these hydropower stations could very well be the answer that the entire African continent has been praying for, and as we speak Nigeria and Lesotho have both expressed their interest in collaborating with Mkhize’s brainchild PenCT to introduce this innovation in their respective countries.

The Nigerian government seems to have a clear picture of how far they want to take this as they are eyeing PenCT for a presentation around a smart city project. Research studies have proven that small as it is, Lesotho has the potential to supply 60% of the water required in the entire SADC Region; which translates to that country having all the necessary Hydro PowerStation elements. Not only is this an initiative that will bring hope against the decade-long energy crisis in the continent but the greater goal is to combat poverty, and climate change and boost the economy. Before the end of this month (July 2023) PenCT is hoping to jump on a tender in the land of the beautiful Rainbow Nation, South Africa.

“Gender based violence is within the policies of Pen CT; and Pen CT at its core has what I call the heart of a woman” says Penny who has her heart set on not just giving abused women a voice but is determined to help them claim their power back with her plans to create employment for other gender based violence survivors.

By: Mbali Mbatha

There’s been a lot of talk around quiet quitting. This is the trend where employees put in a minimal amount of effort just to get through the workday Although this trend is disturbing, we need to take a look at some underlying factors that contribute.

Nothing has been the same since Covid. Lives have changed, working situations have changed, and we all interact differently. I understand this as a husband, father, and CEO As a result, we need to approach things differently. We’ll get into the reasons why quiet quitting is worse than just quitting. I believe that it means people are struggling to find meaning in their work

The power of purpose

We’re at a point where work has lost meaning People are tired of being someone at work they’re not This trend is not only hurting the workplace, it’s making all of us more aware of why the “traditional” workplace has never worked. All of us want to be passionate and engaged in what we do each day to earn a living For me, this has been my entrepreneurship, my kids, and my work on Instagram my passions. But for many, they aren’t passionate about what they do in the workplace

Quiet quitting means that workers are lacking in enthusiasm, which points to the silver lining of the pandemic: people are starting to choose what they want to do

Quiet quitting didn’t become a movement in the workplace until after Covid hit What is important about the quiet quitting trend is that it’s waking all of us up to an economic situation in which many are forced to take jobs just to make ends meet, and to an economic climate that makes it more challenging than ever for people make a living doing what they love To break the pattern of quiet quitting, this is the time to follow your passion so that you’re not just showing up somewhere to make a buck

We choose how we withdraw

You’ve probably had an experience where you’re done with a job or relationship. You step out of that situation in your own way. There’s nothing wrong with that! But know that if you see yourself checking out of your job or a relationship, that’s a sign for you Something must be done, and if you can’t do it right now, begin to make a plan. If your day-to-day is not engaging you, you’re not valuing what is engaging you And if you’re a leader who sees your employees checking out, this is a great opportunity for you to step back and reframe.

If you’re an employer, you may be more willing to hire a quiet quitter I get it The labor market has not been kind. But for employers, that means we need to step up our game by focusing on two things:

It’s not easy, but those who are hiring are looking for character Those who are being hired based on character are looking for a culture that nurtures who they are.

We choose how we withdraw

It’s not easy, but those who are hiring are looking for character Those who are being hired based on character are looking for a culture that nurtures who they are Quiet quitting isn’t just appearing in the working environment, it’s also showing up in relationships. People can quietly check out any kind of relationship, whether personal or business And to put this trend fully into context, quiet firing is also occurring When a situation is unrewarding, “checking out” can go both ways.

In any working environment, some are super engaged, others are detached, and the rest are quiet quitters They’re sticking around because they need to but aren’t all in. Although this trend might seem strange, you likely understand because you’ve felt this way or know someone else who does It’s not strange; in fact, it’s sadly normal

Breaking the cycle by finding meaning

As an entrepreneur, I hold a leadership position I have realized that those who work for me need to feel the passion that I feel in order to stay engaged The last few years have led us all to disconnect. The job market may be uncertain, but the solution to quiet quitting is to feel involved and passionate about what we do Our professional lives need to meet our personal lives to be sustainable. We may have to work, but we should work where our hearts are. This may seem like a luxury for many, but it is worth the time to see where your heart is and follow it to a place where you can make money.

To end the cycle of quiet quitting, find that thing that fills you with passion Don’t show up and do the minimum. Find what you love and pour your whole heart into it.

Building a culture that makes people want to stay Hiring based on character

Carmen

By: Mbali Mbatha

The shortage of Black stakeholders in the wine industry saw Carmen Stevens renting 2 cellars for her winery business due to limited infrastructure for brewers of color. Registering South Africa’s first ever Black-owned winery in 2019, especially being a female, would only prove fruitful for this seasoned winemaker who shares the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s sentiments about education being the most powerful weapon to changing the world. With products like a sparkling rose, sauvignon blanc, merlot, and nemrac among others, Carmen Stevens Wines’ variety of offerings is a wine connoisseur's African dream.

Upon realizing that she was spending more time on the road and less time making wine, Carmen decided that having her own cellars would be the best way to steer her winery toward success despite her concerns about market access being a rumor for Black-owned businesses in her industry.

“The lack of Black businesses in the wine industry makes it even more important for the Black consumer to be conscious and seek out Blackowned brands,” she says. To open herself up to more opportunities, the confident winemaker who is no stranger to risk-taking, started entering entrepreneurship competitions, and what a worthwhile step it would prove to be as Carmen Stevens Wines has become a household name across our borders with dozens of both local and international awards to their name.

Winemaker of the Year award in California, Winemaker of the DECADE in the United Kingdom, as well as Top Exporter in Agriculture South Africa, are just a few of the accolades that this force to be reckoned with has under her belt to date As a matter of fact, between September 2022 and July 2023 Carmen Stevens Wines have already scooped up more than 20 awards, with more than one award for each wine If in less than 12 months this powerful wine brand can reach a star this bright, one can only wait eagerly to see where Carmen and her team set their eyes next.

For a woman of color to be the first brand to ever bring the carmenere wine grape to our shores is an outstanding achievement but Carmen’s proudest achievement to date is to have her name alongside that of the iconic Tata Madiba as one of the winners of the prestigious Visionary Leadership Award.

Often when people do not have a vision they will get swallowed by new money, instead when Carmen’s awards came with a side tip of cash, the earnest entrepreneur injected the cash into her business by sourcing her own infrastructure.

“When we started the soup kitchen, we could only afford to provide 400-500 learners a cup of soup 3 times a week at 3 schools. Today, we are providing over 25000 learners from 125 schools in the Western Cape with a nutritious breakfast and lunch,” says Carmen of her NPO, emphasizing the lack of awareness of how little it takes to make a difference.

For just R560, Carmen and her team are able to feed disadvantaged children for the entire 200-day South African school calendar. “1% of our sales go into feeding children because I see my business as a give and take with consumers and this is just my way of giving back to them for their support,” says a sentimental Carmen who goes on to explain that she herself is no stranger to growing up hungry.

The team’s greatest dismay is borne out of the South African constitution’s stipulation about children being fed during school days. Naturally, this is critical considering how children struggle to concentrate in class to the point of sometimes even fainting from hunger.

However these children are left to starve during holidays and Carmen and her team have taken it upon themselves to give out food hampers, although they are unable to reach as many children as they would want to due to this being a rather costly exercise. Corporates and individuals who have the means are implored to reach out to Carmen Stevens Wines to support this life-changing initiative.

To book a wine tasting, consumers are welcome to contact Call: +27 87 265 8977

Email: info@thewinearc.co.za.

The Wine Arc The Wine Arc is a vehicle for the wine brands to grow a strong business platform and gives them greater access to markets and e-commerce facilities and a differentiated consumer sector.

Not For Sale to Persons under the age of 18