Women Of Worth Mag

W O M E N W O R T H

OF

M O V E M E N T S O C I E T YI S S S U E 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Profiles of 15

Young Women

Challenging patriarchy in the workplace

F O O D B Y T H E G I F T

T H A N D A Z A N IZ U L U

E M B R A C I N G Y O U N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S A N D T O P M A N A G E M E N T

Embracing Young Women in Business and Top Management Positions

This campaign is brought to you by Women of Worth Movement Society with thesupport of Brand South Africa and Pacsa. Recap on the social media campaign@WomenofWorthMovementsociety on Instagram and Facebook.

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CONT ENTS

05 FOUNDER'S MESSAGE

Nomfundo Msomi welcomes you to the Women of Worth Magazine

08 COVER STORY

we chat to Thandazani Zulu about her business and how it all started

10 MIRAGE HOSTESSES

Nothando Ntshayintshayi shares the ins and outs of the promotions and hosting world

11 TOWN PLANNING

5 minutes with Dube Tradeport Town Planning Manager Nangamso Mniki

15 COURAGE TO START

19 USIBA BUSINESS CONSULTING

we learn more about the story of Simbongile Mbelekwa's life

21 SPACE EDGE DESIGNS

groundbreaking construction duo Nosipho Tapile and Nondumiso Buthelezi talk about running a business in a male-dominated field

23 INJABULO FOODWORKS

Nonjabulo Nzuza lifts as she rises in the culinary world

23 D CHEM GROUP

Nomandla Ngcoya shares on her experience as a female CEO in the medical field

23 YAMKELA'S CAKES

Sanelisiwe Nyide juggles between a cake business and a law degree

23 ZUZOKUHLE ZUNGU

lets us know that she nothing short of a model

Nompilo Dladla reminds us that the biggest obstacle is sometimes our fear to start

16 NUH'S CORNER

Nonhlanhla Bhengu shares how the plight of unemployment led her into business

18 AMAPHEPHETHE FARMING

Nqobile Gwala shares on the struggle of securing start up capital as a woman

12

E D I T O R ' SN O T E

K a y - D e e M a s h i l e E d i t o r

Hello and welcome to the inaugural issue of the Women of Worth magazine!

Working with Women of Worth Movement Society has always been a pleasure. The work done by Nomfundo Msomi and her team inspired me from the very first time I learned of it through a Facebook post in 2018. To date, Nomfundo still walks the talk of women empowerment and that of building a society that uplfits the well-being of women and society as a whole.

This particular project is one that is both necessary and long overdue, a platform for women to be celebrated while also shedding light on the challenges they face on the road to success. Be inspired and be commissioned to make a difference while you read this inspirational magazine.

I look forward to the many conversations and actions that will emerge from this campaign and magazine. Be sure to follow @WomenOfWorthMovementSociety on Instagram for the visual campaign.

P A G E F O U R | W O M E N O F W O R T H

WELCOME TO THEWOMEN OF WORTH MAGAZINE

MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER:

WOMEN OF WORTH MOVEMENT SOCIETY (WOWMSoc) is a female-led non-profit organization that was primarily created to facilitate the emotional and psychological wellbeing of women and society at large. We are a movement of women who aim to empower society, especially women, through programmes that facilitate their healing, and provide support for their mental well-being, thus enabling them to be proactive in taking informed decisions that affect their daily lives. The organization was founded on the basis of self-love by myself, Nomfundo Msomi, and Nompumelelo Khathi, this was after realizing that the issues affecting communities, particularly women go way deeper than what is seen on the surface. We wanted to build a platform for healing, encouragement and unpopular conversations where women get to share their life experiences, get to heal and find themselves. Both I and Nompumelelo believed in the philosophy of self-love and that by knowing your worth, you can build healthier boundaries, grow your confidence and live a happier life. Self-love means taking care of your own needs first and not sacrificing your well-being to please others.

NOMFUNDO MSOMI

In South Africa, the economic inequalities continue to affect women, particularly young women who are embarking on a journey to start their own businesses or to climb up the corporate ladder. There are various reasons which account for this, some of which are psychological.

These issues include the imposter phenomenon (syndrome) which is a psychological pattern in which one doubts their own streghths, qualities and accomplishments. This sort of behaviour limits women's ability to achieve more and often forces them to accept the inferior social position into which they are born because of an intrinsic inability to see themselves as worthy of more, and therefore deserving more.

CONTACT DETAILS

PAGE FIVE | WOMEN OF WORTH

FACEBOOK: WOMEN OF WORTH MOVEMENT SOCIETY

INSTAGRAM: @WOMENOFWORTHMOVEMENTSOCIETY

CONTACT NUMBERS: 0829633680/0643556212

EMAIL: WOWMSOC@GMAIL.COM

Women may also experience high rates of depression, stress and anxiety due to unique stressors, such as work and household responsiilities, single parenthood and caring for children and elderly parents. Another factor restricting women 's success is the lack of skills needed for their growth to increase their chances of becoming employable or starting up their own businesses. Women, particularly women of color, not only earn less than men in the workplace, but are also less likely to have access to capital for their businesses.

Other times, women may be faced with inadequate support from their families and the burden of coping with the workforce that is extremely patriachal. They often shrink in the face of conditions that make their job security and career advancement a nightmare, and thus, it is the case that many positions of leadership across all sectors are dominated by men. This also accounts for the reason why women are often at the mercy of men if they want to progress in the workplace and in some instances, such women are violated in various ways as they seek to either be considered for a job or a given promotion.

I dream of a society where women thrive and excel in all areas of their lives, a society where women are able to pursue their dreams without any hindrances, I want to see women being able love and care without holding back.

This magazine shares women's stories from various backgrounds in efforts to build this very world that I dream of.

"I dream of a society where women thrive and excel in all areas of their lives"

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E M B R A C I N G Y O U N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S & T O P M A N A G E M E N T

Play Your Part is a nationwide movement/campaign created to inspire, empower, and celebrate active citizenship in South Africa. Its objective is to lift the spirit of our nation by inspiring all South Africans to contribute to positive change, become involved, and start doing –

because a nation of people who care deeply for one another and theenvironment in which they live is good for everyone. The campaign is drivenby Brand South Africa.

F a c e b o o k : O f f i c i a l B r a n d S o u t h A f r i c a / P l a y Y o u r P a r t I n s t a g r a m : b r a n d s o u t h a f r i c a T e l : 0 1 1 4 8 3 0 1 2 2 W e b s i t e : h t t p : / / w w w . b r a n d s o u t h a f r i c a . c o m /

COVER STORYTHANDAZANI ZULU

THANDAZANI ZULU

FOOD BY THE GIFT

My name is Thandazani. I grew up at Empangeni (KwaMthethwa reserve), raised by my grandmother, mother and uncle. From them, I acquired the skills of entrepreneurship since my grandmother used to grow vegetables and I would take them to school with me. My mother, on the other hand, was a dressmaker and I would sell for her at school as well. I went to Cwaka Primary School, King Bhekuzulu College, and matriculated at Richard’s Bay Secondary School. In the mentioned schools, I learnt about leadership since I was a class representative from primary school, and occupied various leadership seats in high school as well. When I was in Grade 12, I started a campaign called “Dress a child”, which was under my organization, which I called “You are Never Too Young to Give”. In this I worked with many young people, educators and philanthropists and we gave back to the community & orphanages. In 2016, I was selected to be part of the King Cetshwayo Youth Parliament sitting. This event taught me so much about leadership. When I was doing my first year at UKZN, I faced financial challenges and my mother gave me R300 to buy groceries but I decided to buy ingredients and started selling muffins around campus that was the beginning of Food by the Gift as it grew into the catering company it is today, catering for events all over the province.

I’ve always told myself that I want to do better than yesterday and be an inspiration to women and the youth. I expose myself to spaces that make me a better person in terms of getting knowledge. Investing in yourself is very important. In addition to this, I’ve worked hard to hold a certificate in business administration, a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and I'm currently pursuing a Bcom Honours in Small Business Management at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. I was recognised as the 2019 woman of influence by GOPIO international in association with Womanpact; 2019 representative of young women across Africa at the World economic forum (side event); KZN Premier’s representative at 4IR summit in Free State and was a panelist at the Digital Economy Summit that was organized by Edtea and Moses Kotane (2020). I have also been nominated in the Next Billionaire Awards for The Category “Food and Beverage” for my business, Food by the Gift and The Category TNB Woman of the year. In addition to this, I recently won The Women in Business E-preneur Woman of the year Award from an organization called women in business, in partnership with PMB Chamber of Business.

PAGE EIGHT | WOMEN OF WORTH

COVER STORYTHANDAZANI ZULU

In an era of gender-based violence scourge inthe country and toxic masculinity whichoften plays out in the workplace, what isyour experience or opinion of such in theworkplace?Women are challenged by the fact that theyalways have to prove themselves, especially inbusiness. Sometimes men even ask for sexualfavours before signing those deals, especially inmale dominated businesses. Research alsoshows that most common start-up problemsseemed to be lack of capital, lack of confidencein female business owners‘ abilities on the partof banks, suppliers, and clients alike. Additionalproblems, such as marketing and labourdifficulties and disagreement with associates,may arise after the start-up phase. Stoner et al.(1990:30) found work- home conflict – thetension caused by the dual responsibility ofmanaging a business and maintaining a family tobe the main stumbling block for female businessowners.

Women are still mistreated by men in the business world. Most of us still experience men asking us for sexual favours in order to do business with them. I’m talking on behalf of ladies who’ve approached me, as well as those who’ve asked how I deal with such. Some men over–compliment women, and it can get to a point where it’s uncomfortable to even be around them. I try to avoid such spaces but if I’m forced to be in those spaces, I do stand my ground.

What are you doing to mentor or empower other women? My company hosts events and creates a platform where prominent women who are leaders in the public and private sector, influencers, academics and entrepreneurs are able to get together and interact with their younger counterparts for empowerment purposes. We cover different aspects empower women in different sectors but mainly business. I believe in women empowerment, and I also believe that empowered women empower other women.

What advice would you give your younger self? I’d tell my younger self to never stop dreaming Big!! I would remind her that her dreams are valid. I live by this verse: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9:10

CONTACT NUMBER: 0826610230 FACEBOOK: FOOD BY THE GIFT INSTAGRAM: FOOD BY THE GIFT

Do you have a support system? Yes!! I have been blessed with such supportive family, friends and circles. Most of my close circle in business is under the mentorship of Nsikayezwe Management Consultant where we get assisted as young entrepreneurs to advance our knowledge, skills and ways of doing business better.

"I wish women could live their lives freely and believe that their dreams are valid no matter where they come from."

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NOTHANDO NTSHAYINTSHAYI

"I was born and raised in KwaZulu Natal, Durban. I hold an undergraduate degree in Geography and Environmental Management. I recently submitted my Master's dissertation and am currently in the completion stage of a Master's in Development studies. Those that have been around me can attest to that I have always been a busy bee."

F o u n d e r o f M i r a g e H o s t e s s e s & P r o m o t i o n s

F : m i r a g e _ h o s t e s s e s _ a n d _ p r o m o t i o n sI G : m i r a g e _ H o s t e s s e sT e l : 0 7 2 9 2 0 9 1 6 0

What inspired you to start a business?

The urge to start a business came from a combination of different factors. Mainly, it was the frustration of getting paid so little in comparison to the amount of work I would put in. My thinking when looking at campaign budgets always made me wonder how much the owner of the business is making if we are getting an X amount of money. I wanted to be the boss that gets the big cheque for doing what I’m good at and love.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would advise myself to be patient with myself, and to do my research before pursuing any idea or opportunity. I would tell myself to have everything on paper and invest time in developing workflow and management structures for my business. I would advise myself to focus on mastering the hard stuff and focusing on my daily habits because they alone, will determine the outcome of my future. My first motto is that you have got to jump when you are most afraid, my second motto is to show up, even when it seems the odds are stacked against you, just show up. My third and most important motto is that nobody owes you anything, not even your parents. So if you don’t make it a point to give yourself the things you want, you’ll never have them. It is entirely up to you; your life is your own responsibility.

What is your experience or opinion of GBV in the workplace?

It is so unfortunate that as a society, it seems that we have advanced in all ways but one. In my observation, there is a tension that exists among the genders. This tension has manifested itself in the most despicable way even in the workplace. I have worked as a promoter for many years, I am therefore sensitized to the reality of violations against women in the workplace because of the way companies are making them dress to make their products more appealing. At the beginning of my business journey with Mirage, I swore that I would never put any of my female staff in a position where they would have to dress inappropriately or put up with any form of discomfort in the working environment. I made sure to include measures to ensure that my team is presented in dignified and ladylike uniforms that will ensure that they present themselves and are received and interacted with, with the highest respect. I made sure to create an environment where the girls form a bond where they know that they have each other and that they have me should anything happen. I created Mirage with the sole purpose of creating a safe and empowering working environment where my girls can be protected and safe. It is just how we work. After evening events, we have a roll call where everyone checks in to let us know they are home safe. We have had to do this because we live in dangerous times where a woman’s safety cannot be guaranteed.

What are some of the challenges you faced thus far?

I have had the unfortunate experience of being overlooked and being undermined by a male counterpart where they didn’t believe that my team and I could perform based on the assumption that males work harder, are more focused, and less likely to get tired or distracted. Without getting into the details, I can confirm that it was our team that saved the day. I know all too well what it is to be overlooked but there was no way I was going to stop because I knew how incredible my team is, I knew that they care about our company, they care about the vision we have at Mirage, they value the work we do together at Mirage and that is why we can’t afford to be slowed down by temporary experiences. Challenges may come but it is the opportunity to perform that ensures that you bypass systematic obstacles. Performance alone will set you apart and give you access to bigger and better opportunities.

Do you have a support system?

Everyone in my life is incredibly supportive of Mirage.

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NANGAMSO MNIKI

Nangamso is a young, self-motivated, carefree and strong woman; raised in the small town of UMzimkhulu. "I was raised by a single mother and I am the eldest of four siblings. My mother has been very pivotal in my growth (both personal and career growth) and grooming me to be very ambitious and resilient."

Town Planning Manager at Dube Tradeport

What inspired you to start a business/climb the corporate ladder?

My answer addresses both climbing the corporate ladder and starting my own business. Town planning has always been, and continues to be my first love. In climbing the corporate ladder, I have always been driven to enable myself to be in a position to bring about change and have a contribution in the planning fraternity which has been largely male-dominated and occupied by older, experienced individuals. I personally believe there is room for young planners to significantly contribute and bring about positive change in the industry. I haven’t necessarily reached the heights I would like to achieve in the corporate world, but strongly believe I have what it takes. With regard to the business aspect of things, I have always had it in me to be in the development consulting space but always felt I was never ready, until such time that I got retrenched and began consulting. I think that brief period in my career has been the most liberating, and it proves that you will never be ready to take up the perfect opportunity; sometimes you just have to take the plunge.

What is your experience or opinion of GBV in theworkplace?

It is important that from a young age boys are taught to express their emotions openly; that they do not have to be tough all the time; that being expressive of their emotions does not make them feminine or weak.

In the words of Chinamanda Ngozi Adichie, “By far the worst thing we can do to males is making them feel that they have to be hard; in doing that, we leave them with fragile egos”.

These are the very same fragile egos that result in violence and aggressive behaviour towards women. I also think that men believing that certain tasks or decisions, especially within the corporate space, should only be done or taken by men is a play out of such behaviour, and women end up being undermined because some things should be “handled by men” and women cannot undertake certain tasks because they are perceived as weak or soft. In my opinion, it is imperative that we move towards an era where the public perception of what it means to be a man is challenged and redefined.

What are you doing to mentor or empower other women?

I am not directly mentoring anyone but would definitely do it in the near future, and would want to be intentional when doing it. I honestly believe in choosing to mentor someone. It is imperative that you are in a good space to teach, guide and positively contribute to someone’s growth. I would still like to directly mentor females within the development planning space. I just think of myself when I was a young graduate, and the importance of having good guidance earlier in your career is very empowering.

What advice would you give your younger self?

In a world where everyone seems to have everything figured out, do not be afraid to try and fail; it will strengthen you. Embrace failure and change: it will build you and will become your superpower. Moreover, God is the centre of it all and His timing is always perfect.

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E M B R A C I N G Y O U N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S A N D T O P M A N A G E M E N T

5 minutes with Yenziwe Shabalala

My name is Yenziwe Shabalala, a 26- year old, self-made entrepreneur. I am a bachelor of Social Science graduate who majored in Political Science, Education and Development. I am the founder of Sweet Green Tuck-shops. We build tuck-shops in rural and semirural areas.

I have always been a person with an ambition to create or be a part of something which is bigger than myself. When I was in high school I thought I wanted to be an economist, but at university I realised that I wanted to contribute to creating an economy which is sustainable for our communities and the country as whole.

"We are currently providing breakfast in business and government offices around PMB as a means of fundraising for our Sweet Green Tuck- Shop Franchise. What I really enjoy about my field is studying the informal market while also raising capital for our Sweet Green Tuckshops."

The challenge I have faced in pursuing my dream has been acquiring resources and funds to make my dreams come true, but along the journey I have learnt that sometimes: you don’t necessarily need funds or resources in order to make your dream a reality. All you need to do is use what you have and work with what you have. Your business can grow in that way. We still have a long way to go in achieving gender equality in our country. It is still a challenge to be taken seriously in business as a woman. Both clients and male business associates contribute to the problem. We need to get to a point where women don’t feel like they owe men something for using their services.

My dream is to see Sweet Green Tuckshops all over South Africa in five years because there is so much wealth in the informal market, and young people need to be made aware of this. As South Africans, this is a sector we have lost, and we need to take it back! For our first tuckshop, we have started fundraising by selling breakfast in business and government offices around PMB. There is a second business we have started, Business Class Events & Seminars, which helps young women develop their businesses through helping them with their business plans. This business is still at a very elementary stage, but the aim is to grow it as soon as the Covid-19 nightmare is over. Never give up on yourself. Start small while thinking big.

P A G E T H I R T E E N | W O M E N O F W O R T H

E M B R A C I N G Y O U N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S A N D T O P M A N A G E M E N T

PACSA (Pietermaritzburg Agency for Community Social Action) is a 40 year old NPO established in 1979 to fight against the evils of the apartheid government.

PACSA works on issues of human rights and socio-economic justice through strengthening civil society actions for Social transformation.

As PACSA, we believe that true development can be achieved through building the power of vulnerable groups, their capacity on governance, human rights, social justice and policies is crucial in the process of community development.

PACSA have 5 community development programs, some of which are: - Food security - Community empowerment - Youth in business - National advocacy projects.

Contact details

Facebook: PacsaInstagram: pacsa79

Tel: 0333420052Website: http://www.pacsa.org.za/

NOMPILO DLADLA

Founder of Izinqgqungqulu Zesizwe NPC

I am Nompilo Dladla, an ambitious young lady from the rural areas of Pietermaritzburg, eMkhambathini (Maqongqo). I am a lady who is a University of KwaZulu-Natal student currently pursuing a Master of Commerce in Entrepreneurship. I have also obtained a Bachelor of Social Science degree, Bachelor of Social Science (honours) in Psychology and lastly, Bachelor of Commerce (honours) in Management. What keeps me calm and relaxed is listening to good music, reading, and jogging. With these diversions, I develop myself mentally and ensure that I stay healthy and fit.

What inspired me to embark in the business field was to have a positive impact on myself and others; thus my area of interest within business is social entrepreneurship and innovative entrepreneurship, but my focus now is on social entrepreneurship. I am in the process of starting a non-profit company (NPC) which will aim to build and uplift the confidence of the young ladies located in the rural areas because I believe once you know your worth, you have found your treasure, and nothing can stop you.

Being a young lady, penetrating the business space is comfortable and challenging at the same time. It is easy because a woman is powerful beyond measures. However, systematic obstacles come into play, sexual harassment, the “women are not fit for business” notion, and race amongst many other challenges unique to an individual.The only challenge I have encountered thus far is taking action to start, fearing to start. Other than that, I am looking forward to learning and growing through my business journey.

The advice I would like to give every young lady out there is to start. Do not sleep on yourself, get up, and start. Be true to yourself. Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God - Corinthians 2:5

What keeps me moving is making sure I am a better version of myself and because everywhere I go people comment about my late mom and say ”Your mom was such a lovely person who was always willing to help and was ever-smiling." These words shall live on in my existence in this world so that my children shall live on it as well.

I joined the PACSA small business program in 2019. Through my journey in this organization, I have grown to understand myself, business, and the world better. I have developed a sense of identity and a hunger for success. I am confident to say PACSA's small business program has made me build a strong foundation when storms come; I am still standing. Frankly, PACSA has, and still is having a significant impact on my life. PACSA is doing a brilliant job in growing and supporting young girls to embark on taking up space in the business sector.

The goals I have set for myself is to excel in my career and obtain my Ph.D. in entrepreneurship before I reach 30 years. Another goal is to have a successful NPC that will live on for the next generation. I would also like to embark on my journey of living with a positive mindset and make sure I take every opportunity and leave no stone unturned. To ensure the success of my goals, I have a vision board and have set SMART goals that are authentic.

“I envision a society of selfconfident girls I believe that once a person knows their worth, they have found their treasure”

For more information, contact Izinqgqungqulu Zesizwe NPC at 0842976462

P A G E F I F T E E N | W O M E N O F W O R T H

NONHLANHLA BHENGU

Founder ofNuh's Corner Takeaways

My name is Nonhlanhla Bhengu, I live in KwaMpumuza with my dad and four siblings. I believe that I’m a hard worker, passionate, and also consistent. I love challenges as they bring about learning and I’m a self-motivated person. I was motivated to start my business because of the poor financial situation which I had found myself facing. I had tried so many times looking for a job and nothing come my way. That was when I decided to start selling vetkoeks within my community. The demand for fast food grew as some of my customers were taxi drivers. The type of business that I currently run is a fast food tuck-shop.

Do you have a support system? Yes, I do have a support system that includes my PACSA business mentor and my family. They are the ones who encourage me to continue working hard towards self-development as well as in business.

What are some of the goals you have set for yourself and what steps are you taking to reach these goals? I have set goals that are aligned with my business goals. As a growth strategy for my business, my medium-term goal is to open a car wash that will service the greater community of the KwaMpumuza.

What challenges do you face as a young woman trying to start a business or grow your business? The challenge that I face as a young black woman in a society that embraces masculinity, is that I need to constantly prove that as a young black woman, I can run a successful business.

What advice would you give to that young girl who wants to start a small business in South Africa? For a young woman who wants to start their own business in SA, I would say firstly be confident in yourself and your idea. Secondly, you need to know what is it that you want to achieve. Set your eyes on it, and be consistent. Lastly never stop dreaming and never stop working towards your dreams.

What is that one thing that keeps you going every day? My vision and dreams keep me going. Yes, sometimes it gets difficult and I do encounter obstacles but because I have connected with what I do and with my customers, I get up and continue.

When did you join PACSA small business program? And what support has PACSA provided to you throughout your journey? I joined PACSA small business program in March 2019 through a friend, and ever since I became part of the program, I have seen a great change in myself and the way I operate my business. My PACSA business mentor has been so helpful throughout my business journey.

How can PACSA improve its support for young women who wants to start a small business in their communities? Probably the issue of seed funding, if PACSA could look at how it can create such support.

P A G E S I X T E E N | W O M E N O F W O R T H

E M B R A C I N G Y O U N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S A N D T O P M A N A G E M E N T

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NQOBILE GWALA

F O U N D E R O F A M A P H E P H E T H EF A R M I N G

C o n t a c t N u m b e r : 0 6 2 1 7 6 0 5 4 7

"What I envision for women in South Africa is as follows: oneness within ourselves as women, yes we all have our own differences but that shouldn't divide us. More participation in any fields that we desire without being manipulated or overworked just to prove our strength and fitness; and lastly a safe environment."

My name is Nqobile Gwala . I am the director and founder of Amphephethe Farming in Pietermaritzburg, KwaMpumuza. I love spending time in the kitchen trying out various dishes, and I just generally like the finer things in life! My schooling career commenced at Tetelegu Primary School, and progressed to Laduma High School where I completed my matric. I then went to study electrical engineering at uMgungundlovu TVET College, and I currently hold an N3 certificate and I’m working on N4..

What inspired you to start a business? I had a strong fascination towards agriculture during my early teenage years; particularly crop production. However, I never thought I could convert the fascination into to a business idea. A few of the challenges that I faced at college drew me back to agriculture, and I found it’s where I feel more at ease. That’s when I decided to start a crop production company called Amaphephethe Farming. At Amaphephethe Farming, we are currently producing fresh vegetables, and we aim to venture into agro-processing.

Do you have a support system? My support system comes from social media friends who continuously keep me on the move and inspire me to work harder. My family and friends do also play an important role in my psychological and mental wellbeing.

What challenges do you face as a young woman trying to start a business or grow your business? The foremost challenge that I face is that of making my family understand why it is that I chose to be a business person. Secondly, I find financial management within my business quite challenging, hence I’ve taken it upon myself to beef-up on financial literacy.

What is that one thing that keeps you going everyday? The fact that I started is the greatest motivation, and it gives me the strength to continue and grow from strength to strength.

What advice would you give to that young girl who wants to start a small business in South Africa? Sisi akukho ongeke ukwenze, your ideas and dreams are very valid. Start with what you have, and the universe will come through for you.

When did you join PACSA small business program? And what support has PACSA provided to you throughout your journey? I joined PACSA small business program at the beginning of 2019, and the journey has been great in terms of it exposing me to a vast range of business support opportunities, seminars, and training. Through this program, I have learned the art of networking and the value behind creating networks has been one of the greatest accomplishments.

P A G E E I G H T E E N | W O M E N O F W O R T H

SIMBONGILE MBALEKWA

F O U N D E R O F U S I B AB U S I N E S S C O N S U L T I N G

F : U s i b a B u s i n e s s C o n s u l t i n gI G : @ u s i b a b u s i n e s sW : w w w . u s i b a c o n s u l t i n g . c o . z a

My name is Simbongile Lonwabo Mbalekwa. I am a business woman, a mother of five, a wife, a mentor, a leader and a qualified accountant. I matriculated at Khanyisa High School in Mthatha and went on to attain a Bcom degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. After graduation I joined a company called Guarantee Trust which partnered with FASSET for a work readiness program. This program changed my life professionally. I learnt to unlearn everything I thought I knew and relearn life skills that even to this day assist me to present myself in a professional manner. I started out my career in the finance/accounting sector at a small accounting firm in Nelspruit after completing the work readiness program as a trainee accountant. I was one of four (4) black trainees in an Afrikaans speaking firm so I had to adapt quickly and learn to interpret financial records in another language. After a few months I moved to the Auditor General’s office in Pietermaritzburg in order to be closer to my children as Nelspruit was too far. Working at the AG’s office gave me an opportunity to mentor incoming trainees and my passion for youth development was ignited. I spent almost three (3) years at the AG’s office and decided I wanted to strengthen public confidence (which is the AG’s mission) from inside so I got a job to start an in-house internal audit unit in a Municipality at the South Coast of KZN. Working for this Municipality meant a week away from my family, so I was confronted with choosing between what I love and the people I love; joys of being a woman right! I chose a job closer to my people, so I moved after a few months to join a finance team at a Municipality within the uMgungundlovu District. Joining the finance team inspired me to pursue my professional accountant designation.

In 2019 another opportunity to start an in-house internal audit unit and head the unit surfaced, and I grabbed it with both hands. I am now a qualified accountant with a designation of Professional Accountant (SA) from the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) and a registered tax practitioner that allows me to handle tax matters on behalf of other people. With these designations I saw a gap in the market and started my own accounting firm called Usiba Business Consulting as a side hustle. The company started its operations in 2018 and is growing. It currently employs three (3) permanent staff members who are women, and employs contract employees on a project basis. My passion for youth development gave birth to a Non- Profit company called MB Foundation for Youth Development which mentors, tutors and inspires high school pupils to maximize their full potential. MB Foundation believes in empowering young girls through various programs like the annual high tea party. As women, I feel it is important that we take part in leadership roles that shape the spaces in which we operate. That is why I took up a leadership role in 2018 as a secretary of the SAIPA Midlands District Association and this year, 2020, I became the Chairperson of the SAIPA Midlands District Association.

"I envision a safe world both physically and mentally or emotionally. This is why I teach leadership to young high school girls so that in any platform they are able to take charge without fear of criticism or being reduced to just being women."

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I S S U U . C O M / A S S E R T M A G A Z I N E

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S P A C E E D G E D E S I G N S

W I T H N O S I P H O T A P I L E & N O N D U M I S O B U T H E L E Z I

My name is Nosipho Tapile, I was born and bred in Cape Town in a township called Gugulethu. I was raised by my beautiful mother, Nothemba Tapile, and my late grandmother Nomabali Tapile. I did my lower grades at Thornton Road Primary School, and completed high school at Sea Point High, which is where I discovered my love for Interior Design. I was fortunate and blessed to come from a family that has someone working in the industry. Through my uncle, who is an architect by profession, my interest and love for interior design amplified as I got to learn more on what the industry entails. After completing matric, I did a year in upholstery at Cape College. Thereafter, I completed an Interior Design course at Cape Peninsular University of Technology (CPUT). It was then that my business partner (Nondumiso Buthelezi) and I met, and because of the common interests we had, we decided to join ventures and that was when Space Edge Designs was created.

My name is Nondumiso Buthelezi, born and bred in Richards Bay KZN and now based in Durban. I completed primary school in Richard’s Bay, where I started noticing the love I have for drawing and business. I later found that I have interest in entrepreneurship when, in primary school, we would have market days. We would sell items to the whole school. My 3 friends and I decided to push the limit and went on to create and organize a full talent show that had all the tickets sold out very quickly, along with prizes and everything that needed to be prepared for the event. The event attracted a lot of attention around the town and in newspapers because it was the first of its kind in the school, and was executed by the learners. I was 12 years old then. This is when I really showed business interest. With a technical and business background, I went on to study in Pretoria, and then later in Cape Town where I completed a Higher Certificate in Architectural Draughting from Inscape Design College and an ND in Interior Design from CPUT.

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How did Space Edge Designs come about?

Apart from the fact that we have both always wanted to start our own businesses as individuals prior to meeting, it was at University that we started having discussions about opening a design office together. Our biggest motivation was our personal goals and to create something for ourselves, individually, that will live for generations to come. "With that being said, from a young age I knew that this is the road I’d eventually take," Nondumiso adds.

What are some of the challenges that you faced thus far?

The nature of the industry requires huge capital investments and working capital. With that being said, securing a loan has been one of major challenges we have faced when we started. Hence we had to rely on the money we have saved up while we were still employed and family to help raise capital to buy the equipment that we needed. Being female in this industry and trying to attract clients and have them believe that we are more than capable of doing the work has also been a challenge.

"...from a young age I knew that this is the road I’d

eventually take..."

What are some of your goals?

Individually we have common goals that we want to achieve and they all revolve around our company. We plan on expanding office once our two branches can function independently and where we see a good market for our business to expand to. Also we are working on an extension of the company service by providing interior construction service for our clients, seeing that for the longest of time we have been outsourcing the relevant professionals to bring life to our designs. Also we do have many concepts we wish to develop and implement. We feel strongly about the fact that these concepts will make an extremely great impact on the youth and most importantly, will create job opportunities.

What are you doing to mentor or empower other women?

We have created WCA which stands for Women in Construction Architecture network, which is a 100% female network that is focused on women in construction and architecture. It enables young professionals to work together & empower each other in the industry.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Nosipho: It’s ok not to get things right at first, with hard work and consistency anything is possible.

Nondumiso: Imagine Anything and focus on progress, not perfection. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small. It is your vision, your dream. It's up to you to make it happen.

Our motto is: The tiny seed knew that in order to grow, it needed to be dropped in dirt covered with the darkness and struggles to reach to the light – Sandra King.

Contact Number: 0833824691 / 0662326688 Facebook: Space Edge Designs Instagram: space_edge_designs

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NONJABULO NZUZA

Founder of Injabulo Foodworks

“I believe in lifting others as you rise hence I have started trainings on culinary arts”

I am Nonjabulo Nzuza. I was born at Edendale Hospital on 11 September 1985. I am the last born at home. I'm married to Sboniso Nzuza and we have a son, his name is Onke. I enjoy running in my free time. My journey in business started back when I pulled up at the buildings of the Treasury Department with my chef gear, a container full of muffins, and a great deal of enthusiasm. This was after frequenting the area, getting to familiarize myself with its dynamics, and concluding that indeed there was a readily available market for my product. I was indeed chuffed and inspired when my muffins got sold out in no time, and I have not looked back ever since.

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What inspired you to start a business/? After many years of being employed, I realized I was destined for great things. I always wanted to be my own boss. I’ve always possessed business acumen. Back at culinary school I would request permission to bake from my trainer, and then carry a container full of muffins which I sold for about R3 each. This habit continued right until I graduated.

What do you love most about your field of work? Meeting different people from different place and sharing my journey as an entrepreneur. Also, transferring a lifetime skill to people to start making their income is what I love the most.

What are some of the goals you have set for yourself and what steps are you taking to reach these goals? To officially own a registered and accredited culinary arts training studio that will be affordable yet compatible.

What are you doing to mentor or empower other women? If not, how would you like to empower women? I am offering affordable cooking and baking classes, as well as an introduction to businesses skills to different women. I own Injabulo Foodworks Culinary Training Studio, and that is the vehicle through which I intend to empower other women by transferring skills such as baking for orders.

What advice would you give to your younger self? What is your motto in life? Love what you do, do it to the best of your ability the first time. Amandla Ombono will keep you safe and on your lane.

What are some of the systematic challenges you faced while pursuing your dream? I would be lying if I said I have any significant story to tell about systemic challenges in my area of business. Perhaps it’s because things related to cooking and baking are usually associated with women.

In an era of the scourge of gender-based violence and toxic masculinity in our country, both of which often play out in the workplace, what is your experience or opinion of such in the workplace? Sometimes you find men who often show an interest in your business and want to meet up to talk business when in fact they want to pursue a romantic relationship with you.

Do you have any support system? I get a lot of support from my family, especially my husband. This has really helped me grow in my business.

CONTACT NUMBERS: 0612331247/ 0794643394 FACEBOOK: INJABULO FOODWORKS INSTAGRAM: INJABULO FOODWORKS

PAGE TWENTY FOUR | WOMEN OF WORTH

NOMANDLA NGCOYA

Founder of D Chem Group

My name is Nomandla Ngcoya, a very energetic 27 year old woman with an outstanding work ethic. I spent my early childhood days in Bulwer and later moved to Pietermaritzburg. I went to Forest Hill primary school and later went to Haythorne Secondary School. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at UKZN and I am the founder of D Chem Group which is a detergent and cosmetic manufacturing company.

C: 0719342132 | FB: DChemGroup | IG: D-Chem Group

A couple of things inspired me to start D Chem Group. I always had the idea of giving back to my community. In Bulwer, people use the green bar soap for everything, for example, washing dishes, doing their laundry, bathing and cleaning the house. I wanted to give them an easy and cheap solution which was making them affordable detergents. I am happy that most are buying the dish washing liquid and pine gel. I started D Chem Group a couple of months after my internship ended and this was after I was admitted for depression at the Durban City hospital for 8 days. I came back from hospital and immediately registered the company. I was broke and drained but I wanted to make this happen. I was also raised by business women, my grandmother and mother.

The advice that I would give to my younger self is that you reap what you sow. There is nothing that grows in comfort zones so you need to get a little uncomfortable to get what you want.

In the workplace, I struggled with men who didn’t want to listen to a female CEO. Sometimes I wanted to lie that I was not the founder of the company and just tell them that I am the manager working for Mr So and So. Eventually, I decided to hire females only.

It has always been difficult for women in the STEM field. I remember that even when I was doing my honours, there were 4 females and 12 males in class. The guys were performing well and I realized that this was because they didn’t have a list of chores to do. I decided to move out of my mothers house because I realized that the 3 hours I use for house chores can be converted to study time if I only had one room to clean. In the business world I haven’t really experienced any gender inequality issues. I think this is because I believe that education really opens doors. People always applaud me for juggling a PhD and a business although I do get a lot of people who ask me why I don’t have a kid at the age of 27, as if I’m not already struggling with juggling a PhD with a business. I also have to applaud the Department of Science and Technology for doing their best to ensure equality in the stem field. A few years back the NRF started giving bursaries to women only, to ensure that more women go into the stem field.

I am planning on hosting a lot of webinars and seminars that are going to help and inspire a lot of women in business. Currently, I am a motivational speaker and I provide these services for free. I have been a motivational speaker for many youth day and women’s day events. In the next three years, I would also love to export D Chem products to other countries. To reach this goal, I am opening up a D Chem Group branch in Centurion, Gauteng this year. Gauteng is closer to most borders and I see this as an advantage.

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SANELISIWE NYIDE

Founder of Yamkela'sCakes

My name is Sanelisiwe Nyide from Imbali, Unit 14. I am doing my second year in Law at the University of South Africa. I’m a single mom who loves reading and writing poetry but most of all I find peace in the kitchen. I love cooking and trying new dishes.

What inspired you to start a business? I want to open a cake shop that provides affordable and tasty cakes and what inspires me is the fact that I’ll make something of myself and I’ll be able to inspire other black single moms who find themselves in the same situation as me.

What are some of the systematic challenges you faced while pursuing your dream? People (investors) find it hard to back a black young woman. They think she cannot become successful within the business space, so this makes it hard to find capital or funding.

"Knowing that one day I’ll be able to create jobs for young people like me..."

What are some of the goals you have set for yourself? I've set two goals for myself. The first one is learning how to market my business and getting more revenue. Right now I’m looking into finding out and what strategies I could use to market my brand and on which platform. The second one is a long term goal because I want my business to operate and all around KZN.

What challenges do you face as a young woman trying to start a business or grow your business? Most of the challenges I face are financially related and we all know that we can’t run a business with no cash flow that would assist in sustaining myself while hustling.

What advice would you give to that young girl who wants to start a small business in South Africa? I'd say go for it. It's not an easy process but it is doable and once you get the hang of it you will do great things.

What is that one thing that keeps you going every day? Knowing that one day I’ll be able to create jobs for young people like me struggling to find a job and knowing that I’ll be an inspiration to other black young women.

Do you have any support system? My mom is my biggest supporter. She is always there for me, hence she is my support structure.

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ZUZOKUHLEZUNGU

FOUNDER SOUTH AFRICA INTERNATIONAL PAGEANTS

FACEBOOK: SOUTH AFRICA INTERNATIONAL PAGEANT

INSTAGRAM: SAINTLPAGEANTS

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My name is Zuzokuhle Zungu. I am a model, content creator, YouTuber and the co-director of South Africa International Pageants. I am also former Miss Teen South Africa International 2019, Face of South Africa 2018, Miss Junior Teen KZN South Africa International, and Miss Teen International Public Choice 2019.

My love for pageantry inspired me to jump on to the pageant industry. Since I obtained these titles, I was inspired to be a pageant director. I want to give women of all ages the platform to be able to speak out for those that don’t have a voice; for them to make a difference with their sash and crown.

"I believe that we should all be given an equal chance.Winning Miss Teen South Africa International was avalidation to me that short models can also do it."

My challenges haven't been related to men as we do not work with many men in this industry. However, I have faced a lot of discrimination. As a short model, it’s been difficult for me to do certain model jobs because they require tall models. This is truly unfair because models of my height can do the same job that tall models do. I believe that we should all be given an equal chance. Winning Miss Teen South Africa International was a validation to me that short models can also do it.

I love my work becuase it allows me to travel and meet new people. I’m an outgoing person, so this is just the perfect job for me. I meet people of different cultures and I get to learn more about them. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would ever go to America, and I’m truly grateful that I did go there through pageantry.

My goal is to host a successful pageant next year in March. I’ve been doing a lot of planning, and now since we’re on level 2 of Lockdown, I’ll be able to implement those plans accordingly and to perfection.

As a content creator with a high following on social media, people are very inspired by the things I do. Social media is evolving and it’s the way forward right now, I will use my influential skills to raise awareness of the issues that we face in society and empower women as much as I can through social media. I will also start campaigns that will attract people to join as well.

My advice to my younger self: Do things for you and only you. Do not let anyone stop you from achieving your dreams.

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E M B R A C I N G Y O U N G W O M E N I NBusiness & Top Management