SMME NEWS - NOVEMBER 2018 ISSUE

the heartbeat of small enterprises smme news
8
ITHALA MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME HELPS WOMEN MAKE HEADWAY IN BUSINESS
By : Zanele P. Ndimande
Winners of the 2017 Ithala’s Imbokodo Iyazenzela Women in
Business competition are reaping the benefits of their prize –
a business management mentorship programme specifically
By : Oyewo-Umoh Adetola
designed for the needs of their business.
Learning to apply for funding has been important for some; others
have learnt to use social media to successfully market their
businesses while others have expanded their offerings to remain
sustainable. “I had no idea that I could advertise my business on
social media. My mentor showed me how to upload my business
on Facebook and I am now receiving client leads from it,” said
Philisiwe Sibiya owner of Bless Us Catering and Accommodation
in Manguzi. Her two cottages are rented and there is demand for
more accommodation from contractors working in the area. She
also wants to start a restaurant.
For Hlaleleni Buthelezi her Ixhiba Co-operative, which
grows hydroponic tomatoes and other vegetables in Mbali,
Pietermaritzburg, they are progressing with the help of their
mentor. “She has assisted with our business plan for the
Agricultural Development Agency and we are receiving
assistance with record keeping and better understanding our
profit and loss situation,” said Buthelezi. On advice of the mentor
the co-operative is installing signage to ensure visibility of their
business and the mentor has secured a laptop which is set up to
be user friendly by all the cooperative members and they have
had help with their branding.
Buthelezi said they were confident that they would be able to
make a success of the growing project and would like to be able
to buy a cold room and a van to supply the local villagers or rural
areas.
Imbokodo Iyazenzela or “Women doing it for themselves” is a
flagship programme of Ithala Development Finance Corporation,
which aims to create an enabling environment for female
entrepreneurs who require access to finance and the resources to
grow.
“The programme is a pillar of support to women entrepreneurs.
The purpose of the mentorship is not to go out and get contracts
or funding for the mentees, but rather to capacitate them on
business operation processes so that they can do these things
for themselves,” said Sitandiwe Dimba, Ithala Group Reputation
Manager. “We had 568 entries which is a 25,8% on last year’s 421
entries and more than double the 201 entries received in 2016.
The popularity of the competition is an indication of many women
wanting to improve and grow their businesses and realising that
they need business knowledge.
“The business women are nominated by their peers in their social
circle and have been through a rigorous judging process. We have
identified the top 20 winners who will be celebrated at a gala dinner
in Durban on 24 November. “Over the past three years we have
noted the involvement of women in new sectors such as agroproccessing
and chemical manufacturing producing new brands
of cleaning materials. Women are also participating in previously
male dominate sectors such as transportation and logistics and it
is encouraging to also see participation and passion in the growing
hospitality industry including B&B’s.
“Within our mandate Ithala continues to recognise and reward
business success in the SMME sector, emphasizing its commitment
to the continued development of entrepreneurship in KwaZulu-
Natal,” said Dimba.
She said the mentorship programme was a way of giving back to
the community especially to those previously disadvantaged. The
programme was designed to offer guidance and advisory services
on business plans; cash flow management; tax compliance
documents; starting and or register a business and compliance
among other things.
She said the mentorship programme was a way of giving back
to the community especially to those previously disadvantaged.
The programme was designed to offer guidance and advisory
services on business plans; cash flow management; tax
compliance documents; starting and or register a business
and compliance among other things. Jabulile Khambule owner
of development project Come Again Phindubuye in Umlazi
said her mentor had assisted her in applying for funding by
breaking the application into step-by-step assignments which
she would complete.
Come Again looks after 46 children aged 18 months to five
years daily. Many of the toddlers are the children of school
going learners and the project provides social behaviour
change programmes for these young parents. It has been
assigned a permanent social worker to look after the children
as well as assigned a permanent Care Youth Community
worker; it is in partnership with three schools in the area; has
been appointed by the Department of Social Development to
distribute dried fruit to the needy; it works with a local radio
station on various social programmes.
“My mentor then corrected any errors, and so we went until the
application was complete and ready to be submitted. When I
have problems I contact her and she is willing to help me all
the time,” said Khambule.
The Maqhanene Co - operative in Kwa-Dlangezwa,
Empangeni is extremely excited about being part of the
year-long mentorship programme. Their business has grown
substantially by improving the way they advertise their
business and keeping track of new trends among other
mentorship assistance.
By the end of the programme the co-operative had catered for
five weddings, decorated a number of tents, provided food for
a tribal unveiling, catered for birthday events and hundreds of
students and various functions at the University of Zululand.
Ends
Issued by : Ithala Development Finance Corporation
29 Canal Quay Road, Point Waterfront, Durban
Photo 1 : Hlaleleni Buthelezi of Ixhiba Cooperative inspects hydroponically
grown tomatoes in one of the four greenhouses they have in Mbali,
Pietermaritzburg. The produce is sold at the Mkondeni market.
Photo 2 : Growing hundreds of healthy tomato plants hydroponically is
Hlaleleni Buthelezi’s passion. She is a member of Ixhiba Cooperative in Mbali,
Pietermaritzburg.
Photo 3 : Hlaleleni Buthelezi shows off hydroponically grown spinach,
broccoli and cabbage which complement the tomatoes grown by Ixhiba
Cooperative in Mbali, Pietermaritzburg.
DYNAMIC WOMEN INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH
Stephanie Cloete introducing the Port Shepstone branch
members of DWI.
The co-founders of Alpha Lipid Lifeline displaying some of their
product range at the launch.
Founders of DWI from left : Mary Papayya, Indrani Govender, Stephanie Cloete, Judy Ndima, Tinky Ogle and Buyi Buthelezi (not pictured above)
DWI chairperson Indrani Govender awarding councillor Lindiwe
Ncayiyana with an appreciation gift.
issue no. 24
NOVEMBER 2018