This Week@Work 86 established business owners voiced their big challenges at a scale-grow full day workshop. What are yours? Click here and submit

Industrial Engineering Manager Conlog SA Malebo Mohale is currently employed at Conlog SA, as an industrial engineering manager. Her leadership responsibility is aimed at improving business and process excellence. Malebo grew up in Limpopo and first studied at Nelson Mandela University. She joined a graduate programme straight after completing her degree to work at Toyota in Durban. “I’ve been here since 2010, so I’m officially a ‘KZNarain’,” Malebo says with a laugh. Malebo currently holds a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering (DUT), Specialist Project Management (DUT), and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (2KO International). “Specialising in Lean Six Sigma principles, cost reduction, people development, change management amongst many other strategical objectives, I have found my passion for people empowerment and business growth,” says Malebo. She is now studying towards a Master of International Management, specialising in Big Data with IU Studies through a German Scholarship, and looking forward to completing her Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with Novel Idea. “It’s all about data and solving problems. The problems can have a personal or business perspective or be economic issues that we have to deal with. I think a combination of my studies helps in understanding the broader perspective of what we need to address as a country,” explained Malebo. Her over 13 years of professional experience have been acquired while working at AIDC, Toyota SA and Beier Group, where she has grown her skills and corporate experience. “In my spare time, I focus my energy in developing young women, unemployed youth, divorced women, women undergoing challenges amongst other volunteering roles I have taken in various projects. Through these engagements I learnt to share knowledge, coach, and mentor different groups to help people deal with their challenges and unleash their potential,” said Malebo. She also supports school pupils with stationery, uniform, fees, and toiletries. Point of reference Malebo says that she learnt her passion for people development from her late mom, who was her role model and point of reference. She explained, ‘I looked up to my mum a lot. She was an entrepreneur, and I learned a lot from her.” in order to process her experience of losing her mother, Malebo is writing a book on grief, called Grief Unfiltered. She explained, “It’s grief, unfiltered. It’s basically my experience about the loss of my mother. I developed a lot of confidence from watching her do things, she was a community leader. She also was an employer and also helped a lot of women to start up their own business.” Her mother’s leadership approach still resonates with Malebo and through the engagements she had with her, she always desired to grow the vision and that is how Lebhenny Focal Point NPC was established. Lebhenny Focal Point helps people to track, very closely, their interests, passions, and abilities. The objective is to assist women, the youth, and any person that comes through their organisational path to focus on identifying that critical point in life where purpose becomes clear and alignment with self takes place. “We believe that when people are aligned to their purpose, they become more effective, happier and are less discouraged by the incidents of life,” said Malebo. “The reality is that people become easily overwhelmed by challenges of life, and we offer support to help alleviate stress, anxiety and depression through meaningful programmes that are relaxing, educational and empowering,” she further explained. Malebo has encountered some challenges in establishing Lebhenny Focal Point NPC and she says that as a startup, having capital to run their day-to-day business and staying afloat in terms of making profits is difficult. “Sometimes you make a loss, and you just keep on going. These are challenges that I can say really shook me. Keeping the business to stay focused requires perseverance.” Personal achievements One of Malebo’s personal achievements, was to start building her helper a house and this she says has been one of the most challenging yet fulfilling projects to start. The project began in August 2023 and will be completed by 2024. “I believe that my journey as an individual resonates with many young African women or girls. When I won the KZN Gender Mainstreaming Awards in July 2023, I became more aware of the unexplored wealth of opportunities in that I could share my experience with other women and inspire them to follow their dreams.” Malebo was also recognised as a Top 6 Finalist - Positive Role Model Southern Africa and as a Young Positive Role Model at the Gender Mainstreaming Awards Africa region on 5 October 2023. To young women, Malebo would say, “If you have confidence, you are able to face anything, it does not matter if you make mistakes along the way. You have to believe in yourself and find that thing that ticks for you and work on that. Because when you do something that you are passionate about, you will excel. You will succeed because it drives you from your inner self.” To relax, Malebo enjoys running and exercising. She adds, “I enjoy going to the beach, water helps me recoup. I love the sound of waves and stepping on the sand.” Influencing decisions Malebo says that she is thrilled to be part of the KZN Top Business Women 2023 nominees. “The opportunity and exposure have been remarkable as it has inspired me, challenged me, and more so boosted my confidence in ensuring that I keep going. I am grateful for the opportunity and for the experience. It makes a difference, not only to me but to every community member who will one day have a conversation with me as I believe that change happens when ideas are exchanged.” In closing, says Malebo, “Change starts with me owning up to my purpose, working towards influencing decisions that promote people empowerment, especially women and through fostering a culture of financial and economic stability within our communities.”

Head of Sustainability, Risks and Quality Systems Beier Group Tracy Moonsamy works for the Beier Group which is based in Pinetown. She is head of sustainability, risks and quality systems for the group and has been at Beier for 24 1/2 years. Tracy has spent the bigger part of that time managing quality systems implementation compliance. Over the last two years, she has built a portfolio around sustainability – Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and risk, which have been the most exciting two years of her career. Beier is a technical textiles manufacturer, and their value proposition is that they engineer for the customer. Their benevolent intent is helping to protect and improve the quality of life and that is evident in the strong ethos around local manufacturing, growing local capacity and contributing to sustainable economic growth. Foster relationships Tracy is proud of the many achievements that she participates in both at work and personally. She comments that Beier’s biggest achievement is in the dedication that comes through in the way that they do business. “We foster relationships with communities, bringing small businesses into our business, localising products that would have been imported,” explained Tracy. In addition, the Beier Group, through the Mkhulise Young Minds Development Foundation, has a strong bursary system that, provides support from pre-primary up to postgraduate level. The company aims to empower people through education and training to create a strong pipeline of prospective employees as well as grow existing employees. “My belief is that we’re only going to change the economic situation in South Africa if we grow manufacturing capacity,” stressed Tracy. Personally, Tracy is involved with an NPO called United Hands of Hope, which was founded by her brother. They provide spiritual and physical aid to impoverished communities creating a spirit of empowerment and ubuntu. Tracy is enthusiastically involved in industry associations to build capacity for local manufacturers. These include the Medical Device Association of South Africa and the South African Medical Technology Industry Association (SAMED) and various technical committees. Tracy’s journey at the Beier Group started 25 years ago when she was a learner and participated in the company’s CATS programme. Subsequently, the late Hans Beier employed Tracy, and she joined the Beier Group in the accounts department, which was fortuitous. Speaking of her career direction, she commented, “I realised that I didn’t love accounts and I started doing some work in the quality department. I think it was a bit of luck, my own work ethic and good timing.” Fast forward nine years, there was an opportunity to build a clean room that is the state of art for the manufacture of medical devices. Tracy worked very closely with Warren Sachs, who’s her COO now, and together they commissioned a world class manufacturing plant; a Class 7 clean room which is still supplying Europe and the United States. In 2016 Tracy was appointed the first female director in the history of Beier. Triple bottom line Over the years, Tracy’s job has evolved. Businesses now have to look at their triple bottom line and evaluate how they can make profits while taking care of people and the planet. These needs evolved into environmental, social and governance pillars, which are the some of the elements of sustainability. Tracy said, “The reason I love sustainability is that I’m a risk-based person and sustainability takes into account risk management. It is not just your environmental carbon footprint and your waste management, it is how you take care of people, value chains and future proof your business. How do you make sure that you’re moving women and those previously disadvantaged through the process and creating a strong pipeline?” She added that having governance controls in place allows you to make the right decisions. “Sustainability really asks the question: What are the things you need to do so that your business is still here and thriving in five years and in 10 years?” Pushing into spaces Speaking of the people who have inspired her along the way. Tracy says that Warren Sachs and Wolfgang Beier have both provided opportunities for her, while also pushing her into the spaces where she was uncomfortable, which allowed her to grow. She added, “I think that having a space where you can fail safely is important to be empowered. Everyone experiences challenges, if you start with the self, it’s always around whether you feel like you belong. A little bit of imposter syndrome always finds its way in.” A big challenge for Tracy was that she didn’t have a degree that allowed her to walk into a business in a middle management role. She started at the bottom, which she said is great because it gives you good knowledge and grounding in the business. However, she added that starting at the bottom sometimes creates a shackle to the place that you’re started at. Dealing with the limitations one places on oneself and breaking those chains for oneself is important to grow. A second challenge that Tracy has experienced is that the manufacturing sector has always had layers of complexity and historical stereotypes that need to be broken. Tracy explained that she was able to break through these layers. She commented, “You can never ask for a seat at the table or expect a seat at the table if you’re not showing the value that you bring. Often people want the seat without showing value. The way I overcame this was to show my value.” Tracy stressed that it’s important to, “Get your hands dirty, show up in a meaningful way and cream will always rise to the top.” Area of influence Being part of KZN Top Business Women 2023 is meaningful to Tracy on many levels. She commented, “It means that recognition comes from somewhere else. And I think that sometimes that’s important to understand that your area of influence has grown.” In addition, said Tracy, “In the words of Warren Sachs, we want to make manufacturing sexy again. We need more people, especially women, in manufacturing.”

CEO of NHM Wellness Nonkululeko Mkhize, a young businesswoman in KwaZulu-Natal, is the founder and CEO of NHM Wellnet. The business provides wellness services to individuals, companies and to the public at large. NHM Wellnet specialises in providing on-site counselling in the workplace, to both employers and employees, with a focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and managing mental health. In addition to counselling, NHM Wellnet offers supervisor training and the option of hosting wellness days to create awareness about mental health. Nonkululeko had worked as a social worker for a long time, before she decided to step out on her own and offer on-site services, thus saving clients’ time, and quickly found it a more efficient way to practice. Her business grew and she realised that there was room to take the business to greater heights to meet the needs of the corporate sector. A dream Her dream and passion, said Nonkululeko, is to help people understand the importance of mental well-being and to silence the negativity attached to mental wellness. Her motivation, says Nonkululeko, comes from working with people, and from her daughter, who is her life. She was also motivated by the fact that at all the companies and the NGOs where she had worked, there was never a professional on site who she could just go and speak to. “I had to either take time off work or I just had to swallow whatever I was going through at that time,” she commented. Nonkululeko is self-driven and very ambitious, and she said her passion is to provide a tailor-made affordable service to small businesses as well, as she thrives on doing something she loves on a daily basis. Her journey has been challenging. She said that trying to enter the corporate space, especially with the kind of work that she does, has been a very difficult journey. As the concept of employee wellness in corporate is still a fairly new field in South Africa, approaching companies has not been easy for Nonkululeko. She has found it tough to constantly infiltrate corporates and motivate why these kinds of services are vital, and how much they impact productivity. “When employees are emotionally stable, they are more productive, and everyone wins. When employees do not prioritise mental health and wellness, it is difficult to make a difference, and break through perceived biases,” she explained. In addition, her services are perceived as work that should be done in a private or a personal space. “Bringing that into the workplace where I’m asking employees to be vulnerable has been challenging,” added Nonkululeko. Changing mindsets As Nonkululeko has worked in her predominantly black community, she has found great opposition to the idea of mental wellness. The idea that mental health and counselling, therapists or therapy is negative, and means that one is labeled weak, is a constant battle. The misconception is that someone who cannot deal with personal issues is somehow failing. The importance of spreading the message that mental health is not just something for those who have a mental issue, and should be seen as intrinsic to wellness, cannot be understated. Nonkululeko’s message is clear: “Your mental health is important. You are holistic beings, the ultimate goal is holistic wellness, starting at the core of your emotions and working your way out to external factors.” One of the main areas that she has targeted for her probono services are the sports and recreation fields where she lives. Nonkululeko has identified that the provision of mental health as a service is not readily available in sporting clubs. However, she has found opposition to the idea of mental health services as among many of the soccer clubs, tennis clubs etc. these services are frowned upon. Nonkululeko has had to work tirelessly to encourage sports people to grasp the importance of this vital service. However, she has been successful and now works with soccer teams around her community where she offers these services to the youngsters for free as a way of giving back to the community. Nonkululeko’s biggest goal is to have a fully versatile wellness clinic in South Africa incorporating the services of mental health, spirituality, finances, and health, in a one-stop centre. “In a nutshell, wellness is a holistic endeavour, always interlinked. One cannot put it in a box, or isolate it as a single issue to treat,” she says, “A complex situation may require multiple services such as that of a therapist, a doctor, financial advisor, or spiritual insight for instance, and having these services separated makes it unlikely that these people will get the help they need.” Ultimately wellness comprises of these pillars. Just do it Using the vehicle of her business, Nonkululeko puts herself out there for other individuals to learn from her journey. It is her hope she would inspire others to realise that they too can start from humble beginnings and succeed. She believes that anyone can succeed regardless of their circumstances. Nonkululeko’s advice to young women who may be scared to start, or who would want to follow her path is to just do it anyway and make a start. Nonkululeko emphasizes, “The important thing is to just start the ball rolling.” Unwinding to recoup Relaxing after a busy day is important to Nonkululeko. As a social worker by profession, she is a listener at heart, so listening is a big part of her life. Consequently, listening to a variety of podcasts helps her to relax while keeping her informed. She also enjoys gym and aerobics in particular. Nonkululeko’s daughter is still a toddler, so she says with a smile, she gets a good workout at home. She also enjoys being outside, to meditate and reflect while watching nature. When asked what it means to her to be a part of the KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Women initiative Nonkululeko says, “The opportunity to showcase my business and passion is indeed a privilege. It means that I’m able to put myself out there and that other people can learn from my journey to know that they can start their businesses from a perspective of passion.”

Owner Production Logix Shilpa Mehta owns and operates Production Logix, which is an electronics manufacturing services provider specialising in surface mount technology (SMT) through hole technology, box assembly and harnessing. The company offers prototyping, repairs and modifications and supplies a variety of industries such as aerospace, military, mining, telematics, and IoT. On the personal side, Shilpa is married to a wonderful man, and they enjoy a social, active and healthy lifestyle. Shilpa’s business journey evolved from its beginnings as an article clerk, then to banking and structured finance. After her time in banking, Shilpa moved to the UHC Group, which was involved in various forms of printing. “I gained immense experience in the manufacturing industry, which deals with a variety of customers, internal sales, pricing, costing, and supply chain logistics,” she said. From there, Shilpa moved to Production Logix, which she bought in part ownership in 2016. Shilpa commented that she had developed sound business principles and practice as well as had common sense and core values. Consequently, she knew that she would be able to take that leap from printing into electronics. Barriers to entry As does any business in South Africa, Shilpa has experienced her fair share of challenges in making her business a success. Post Covid their company was hit with a global supply chain crisis in electronic chips and components which were manufactured overseas, in very specialised facilities. Consequently, one of the critical areas she had to focus on was their supply chain management and the uplifting and upskilling of their team and working with the supply chain in much greater detail than before. Looking back a few years on, Shilpa says that they are now are a stronger business; their planning productivity and their efficiency has much improved which has helped attract new customers. Shilpa added, “I think with every challenge there comes an opportunity, where you can improve and become more efficient. We now see a vast improvement in our service levels, efficiency as well as communication, which has increased our levels of confidence as well as our customers.” Production Logix has expanded their footprint to operate in different market sectors and have created strong relationships with their customer base. They now supply the aerospace, military, and defence sector within South Africa, which are difficult to get into because of their stringent supplier requirements. In the future, Shilpa’s goal is to extend their footprint to a global customer base. They have a vision of being a proudly South African world class manufacturing facility in the heart of KZN. Shilpa says that being a woman who has had the opportunity to break into the electronics sector is an achievement. “It’s very much a male-dominated space and I have found a way to navigate through this and make my mark. The electronics industry is very different to where I started out, but I have come to realise that any industry requires good principles, trust, and sound logic, which I bring to the table and very much uphold.” “You start off every year with the plan of what you wish to achieve, and we have passion for what we do. We want to be the best, so I think that’s something that motivates us daily,” added Shilpa. Outside of Production Logix, Shilpa is proud to have joined the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation where she served on the board in a marketing communications role and in the membership role. In 2020, Shilpa became first female chapter president for Durban. They managed to grow the chapter from a small to medium organisation to a medium to large organisation during the pandemic as well as support many owner-managed business in the province. Inspirational parents Her parents, says Shilpa are the people who have inspired her the most in the world to do good and to be better. Her father, Bharat Mehta, is her role model and her advisor. “I’ve always admired his business acumen and intelligence, as well as his keen attention to detail. He is someone who admirably has always remained curious about the world and is motivated by continuous growth and improvement – he never becomes complacent and is always planning the next step.” Shilpa’s mother, she says, has shown her what it is to be a good, strong wife and mother. “She fostered a warm, supportive, and safe space for us at home, which provided the ideal counterbalance to my father’s business-mindedness. When life ever knocked us down or offered us blows, she’s been that cushion that softened us and then encouraged us to get back on track and told us to be brave and move forward.” Advice to women The world in general is a tough place said Shilpa. “If I could give one piece of advice it would be to back yourself and don’t take no for an answer. I think as women, we are dismissed quite often. We need to have tenacity to keep going back, to have a thick skin and not be sensitive and not take things too personally but really just push for what we believe in. I’ve been told no numerous times and I’ve kept knocking on doors and eventually the opportunity arose. The other piece of advice is to not rely on anyone to rescue you. When you learn to rescue yourself, you become more confident and develop self-belief that makes you unstoppable. In her free time, Shilpa enjoys spending time with her friends over a good meal. Other than that, she loves a good run on the Durban promenade with a coffee afterwards and enjoys hitting the gym. She has recently started playing padel. Commenting on the KZN Top Business initiative, Shilpa says that it’s been an honour to participate and to tell her story to inspire other women as well as show them that there is a different path to be followed.

The iLembe business community, as with many other South African regions, is continuing to deal with the dynamics of the unprecedented Covid-19 situation. “We are challenged on a daily basis with situations that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago,” says iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism CEO, Cobus Oelofse. “Acknowledging that the safety of our work teams and our communities are our primary consideration, the iLembe Chamber is continuing to support our business community in dealing with these challenges and ensuring business continuity.” The iLembe Chamber has appealed to its members to please support its local, legitimate businesses that are supplying Covid-19 products and services, often through the realignment of production to keep workforces employed. In addition, the Chamber is partnering with a number of professional and commercial institutions, both locally and internationally, to provide as much support as possible. Of note South African banks (Nedbank, ABSA Bank, Standard Bank, Capitec Bank & Ithala Bank) are mindful of the economic impact that the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to have on their clients, many of whom are already under pressure due to the country’s low levels of economic growth. The banks will assess each case on its own merit and continue to be guided by existing lending policies, which include a number of solutions designed to assist clients experiencing payment difficulties. These would include tailored payment arrangements, allowing consumers to repay their arrears over time, restructuring of debts by means of term extensions and reduced instalments, and suspending or stopping legal action “under certain instances”. The diverse range of iLembe Chamber accredited mentors have also offered their assistance to help SMME business owners and entrepreneurs navigate difficult business decisions, prepare business continuity plans, review business strategy and guide revisions of business plans. Oelofse said, “The Chamber’s Board Standing Committee responsible for NPOs, under the leadership of Paula Owen, is also supporting our local communities that are suffering from the pandemic’s economic devastation. In this regard, the iLembe Chamber and its NPO members are working closely with the iLembe Civil Society structure under the leadership of Richard Shandu.” “If you need any other assistance or support, whether around business turnaround strategies, business rescue practices, compliance, legislation or any other matter, please either contact myself or Sakhile Khumalo, your Business Support Manager, on 087 354 6343,” concluded Oelofse. The resources and measures available, are electronically accessible on the iLembe Chamber’s website at: www.ilembechamber.co.za/covid-19 iLembe business support requests can be logged through: www.ilembechamber.co.za/elementor-8464

The iLembe business community will for the next two years be led by Lesa Bradshaw. Lesa, representing Bradshaw LeRoux Consulting, was elected as iLembe Chamber of Commerce president at an executive meeting held on the 25th of March 2021. Lesa will lead the executive committee, comprising of business leaders that represent diverse industry sectors and economic nodes. KwaDukuza businessman, Shain Manjoo, representing the Synergy Property Trust, was elected vice-president. Dominic Collett from Royal HaskoningDHV was re-elected as treasurer. The full board, who invest their time, resources, and expertise to give guidance and oversee the implementation of the iLembe Chamber’s strategic plan, is as follows: Ndumiso Ncube (Manjula Group), Shain Manjoo (Synergy Property Trust) Dominic Collett (RHDHV) Trevor Graham (KIC SA) Xolani Gumede (Cappeny Estates) Andy Horton (LC Smith Inc) Nkonzo Mhlongo (Tongaat Hulett Sugar) Lesa Bradshaw (Bradshaw Le Roux) Hantie Plomp (Triplo4 Sustainable Solutions – Pty Ltd) Hlalelo Mkwabe (Tongaat Hulett Developments – absent for photograph) www.ilembechamber.co.za #KZNbusinesssense

Andy Horton was elected as the President of the iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism at a Board Meeting that took place on Thursday, the 17th of March 2022. Andy takes over the reins from Lesa Bradshaw, the outgoing President. Lesa will continue her involvement with organized business in our district as a Board member of the iLembe Chamber. Hlalelo Makwabe was elected as Vice President, whilst Dominic Collett retains the Treasurer portfolio. Andy, a lawyer with LC Smith Incorporated in KwaDukuza/Stanger, is a founding Board member of the iLembe Chamber. He has been active in local government for the past 34 years, among others as Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Executive Committee Member and as Legal Advisor to the iLembe District Municipality Hlalelo has been representing Tongaat Hulett on the Board of the iLembe Chamber of Commerce since 2018. Hlalelo holds degrees in Regional and Town Planning from the University of Johannesburg, and is championing Tongaat Hulett's land portfolio development in the iLembe District, and also the rapidly growing Sibaya Node, south of our region. Dominic Collett has been a member of the iLembe Chamber Board since its inception, and holds the position of Technical Director Built Environment with Zutari. Dominic is also Chairperson of the KZN Business Chambers Council and co-convenor for business on the KZN Economic Council. Members of the iLembe Board Committees are as follows: Finance Committee: Andy Horton Dominic Collett Ethics Committee: Hlalelo Makwabe Nkonzo Mhlongo HR & Remuneration Committee: Lesa Bradshaw Trevor Graham iLembe Chamber Board representative for Isithebe: Trevor Graham iLembe Chamber Board representative for KwaDukuza Town: Shain Manjoo

The iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism, in partnership with Enterprise iLembe, collaborate to produce the iLembe Business Confidence Index (iBCI), aimed at providing a biannual picture of business confidence in the iLembe District, as well as an overall business outlook. The 2021 Year-End iBCI was set against the backdrop of more relaxed economic restrictions associated with the Covid-19 Risk Adjusted Strategy, the global outrageous overreaction to the fourth wave in South Africa attributed to the Omicron variant, and the destruction of businesses and business confidence during the violent civil unrest that engulfed KwaZulu-Natal, and parts of Gauteng, during July 2021. The iBCI demonstrates the resilience of the iLembe District’s economy, and a turn on a positive trajectory that was aided by the economic recovery strategy of the region. The iBCI is a hybrid index derived from, firstly, a biannual business survey conducted in the iLembe district and secondly, a weighted index of financial and economic activity variables. Highlights and Key Findings iLembe based businesses came back to life during the second half of 2021 with the combined hybrid iBCI (i.e. both the survey and economic activity indices) being recorded at the highest level ever. The iBCI 2021 Year-End was recorded at 52.7 index points, the first positive index recorded, i.e., above the neutral level of 50 index points, since the introduction of the iBCI. Although the iBCI Survey component marginally recorded negative sentiment at 49.7 index points, the 18.3 index point improvement on the previous period greatly contributed to the overall level of the composite index. The positive iBCI Economic Activity Index component of 55.6 index points was the third successive period of positive economic activity for the iLembe District. All the business indicators included in the iBCI Survey Index improved against the levels recorded in the previous 6- and 12-month periods. · Sales Volumes, as a measure of business performance, return on sales efforts and trading location, was at the best levels in six years. · Similarly, Order Book, as a leading indicator of market depth and liquidity, was at the best level since the first half of 2017. · Whilst the business sentiment recorded for the remainder of the business indicators, i.e. levels of employment, inventory levels and late delivery of orders remained in negative territory, all showed improvements compared to the lows of the previous six months. The persisting negative sentiment around levels of employment is symptomatic of the dilemma of employment stagnation in our region, and more effort is required to eliminate barriers to job creation and the constraints to conducting business. With regards to business confidence per economic sector, three sectors recorded positive business confidence, i.e. above the neutral level of 50 index points. The health and wellness, including medical and fitness sector was the most confident economic sector, followed by tourism, catering, accommodation, property management and the wholesale, retail, vehicle trade sector. Despite sentiment remaining in the negative, all other pertinent sectors recorded improved sentiment, namely the construction, property development, property sales sector, agriculture, forestry, hunting sector, the transport, distribution, warehousing, storage, freight forwarding, shipping and exports sector, and the manufacturing, assembly sector. Having felt the full brunt of the pandemic induced economic restrictions, the tourism, catering, accommodation, property management sector, the most pessimistic sector during the first half of 2021, benefitted from the decision to maintain Alert Level 1, and the hasty global response to the Omicron variant. In addition to beaches remaining open and international travel restrictions forcing South Africans to make alternative local holiday plans, the return of the popular Ballito Rage and the Ballito Pro contributed to the positive sentiment. The common concern expressed by respondents in this sector was the need to maintain the positive trajectory of the North Coast of KZN, and the ability to respond to, and address, the risks that has the potential to wreck it. The confidence level of the construction, property development, property sales sector, a key sector in the iLembe District’s economy, remained in negative territory. Views expressed by responding businesses in this sector repeated concerns pertaining to delayed planning approvals and unwieldy building control processes. The development of infrastructure, the expectations around developers’ contributions towards infrastructure development, an increasing concern about the capacity of the road infrastructure and resulting traffic congestion continue to contribute to the prevailing sentiment. Despite an improvement in business sentiment, business confidence in the manufacturing, assembly sector remains firmly entrenched in negative territory. A variety of factors are influencing this sentiment, including macro-economic factors such as raw material pricing and the availability of input stock, both locally and imported. The iBCI Survey component also reflects on business expectations and business outlook over the next six months. Business expectations for the first half of 2022 continues on its positive trajectory, recording the most positive business outlook, 58 index points, since the commencement of the iBCI. The sentiments expressed in the iBCI survey paints a picture of light at the end of a very long tunnel, with local business emerging from the crisis weaker than going into it. Business requires local government, and its public sector partners, to urgently respond to its pleas around addressing the “basics”, viz. tackling decaying infrastructure, effective law enforcement, reining in the cost of doing business and removing red tape, if local businesses is to stand a chance to survive the numerous structural and other modern economic challenges it faces. With regards to constraints to conducting business in the iLembe District, 32% of responding businesses indicated that the market uncertainty brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the inconsistency of responses to mitigate the business impact thereof was their primary constraint. The subdued national economy, the related low overall business confidence and the disrupted regional trading environment resulted in the two market related indicators of market size, and the economic decline and competitiveness and adaptability jointly being the most significant business constraints selected by 43% of participating businesses. 31% of survey respondents listed service delivery and infrastructure provision as primary business constraints. Two further public sector indicators, regulations and compliance and property rates and taxes were perceived business constraints of 19% and 24% of responding businesses respectively - making these three public sector indicators being chosen by an overwhelming 74% of respondents as the primary risk to business. In conclusion The Covid-19 crisis, combined with the civil unrest in the iLembe District, ravaged business sentiment and created significant uncertainty within the regional economy. Resolute political leadership, intent on reassuring the private sector of an improved and supportive business and investment environment, speedy relief to affected businesses, and an improved trajectory of the vaccine rollout will aid our region’s business recovery timetable. The private sector and all levels of government within the iLembe District are committed to dynamically partnering on specific initiatives to stabilise our economy, and that will aid the viability and growth of small and medium enterprises and secure investment in key economic sectors and geographies in our district. Enquiries: Linda Mncube, CEO, Enterprise iLembe, linda@enterpriseilembe.co.za Cobus Oelofse, CEO, iLembe Chamber of Commerce, ceo@ilembechamber.co.za Richard Downing, Economist, Econdow, econdow@axxess.co.za

The iLembe Chamber’s 12th annual The Entrepreneur Programme and Competition was recently launched. The guest speaker at the event was Nureshka Viranna, a Forbes Africa Top 30 Under 30 in the Technology category, who is the co-founder and director of ShopLi. The speaker of the iLembe District Municipality, Councillor Dolly Shandu was also present to show their support. Albert Mkwanazi from Khethi-Bet Trading Pty-Ltd shared his experiences as a 2021 programme finalist. The Entrepreneur 2022 is a flagship business accelerator programme that aims to unearth the entrepreneurial gems in the iLembe District, assist in their development and support them to sustainable levels of growth. The programme partners include Enterprise iLembe, Airports Company South Africa, King Shaka International Airport, The North Coast Courier, ENGIE Peakers Operations and Siza Water. The academic partner of the programme is the UKZN Graduate School of Business & Leadership. For more information T: +27 (0)87 354 6343 E: ceo@ilembechamber.co.za W: www.ilembechamber.co.za

The winners and finalists of iLembe Chamber’s 12th annual The Entrepreneur Programme and Competition were recently announced. The Entrepreneur 2022 winners are Omninela, Ricardo and Nicolas Lognath. Omninele is an e-commerce healthcare company. Their company has attracted the interest of big-name medical aid schemes, which have partnered with their brand to offer members smart health devices. The brothers believe that winning this year’s Ilembe Chamber of Commerce’s Entrepreneur Competition will open up many opportunities for them to grow. “We strongly believe in embracing technology to help people live longer and healthier lives, and we help them achieve this by providing them with online access to shop over 5,000 innovative health and beauty products. We look forward to becoming the leading online health portal in South Africa,” said Ricardo. Second placed winner is Charlton Nyamadzawo, owner of Haka Manufacturing, a bespoke engineering manufacturing company based in Shakaskraal. Haka manufactures block making machines, hosepipe reels, racer brackets, canoe pedals, gas burners, tine shoes, tine ends, tap locks, prototypes of original manufacturers, precision machine parts, sheet metal and bearing housings, to name just a few. Speaking on how The Entrepreneur Competition helped him take his business to the next level, he said: “It was a great platform and we extend our thanks to the team at the Chamber. We have never been busier. The competition really leveraged us to do more. We’ve also been able to help upskill more people from the local community since then.” Third placed winner is Ntombikhona Khonah Khumeni, owner of Khonah K Designs which was founded in 2019. Making face masks during the pandemic was quickly followed by the making of plus size dresses that were sold online. In an effort to overcome the seasonality of trade, Khona also started making and selling pinafores to individuals and businesses – allowing Khonah K Designs to take off. “As a plus-sized woman, getting the perfect fit is always a problem. So to dress the way I like and be comfortable, I went for basic sewing lessons to make my own dresses. Other plus-sized women then approached me, asking me to make dresses for them too. Unfortunately, we have temporarily stopped with the dresses as the pinafores are keeping us too busy,” said Khumeni. Holding a financial management diploma from Thekwini College, her long-term goal is to own a clothing factory producing her own clothing label. She said the entrepreneur competition helped her a lot in terms of record-keeping and the financial management of her business. The Entrepreneur 2022 is a flagship business accelerator programme that aims to unearth the entrepreneurial gems in the iLembe District, assist in their development and support them to sustainable levels of growth. The programme partners include Enterprise iLembe, Airports Company South Africa, King Shaka International Airport, The North Coast Courier, ENGIE Peakers Operations and Siza Water. The academic partner of the programme is the UKZN Graduate School of Business & Leadership. The virtual home of The Entrepreneur is www.theentrepreneur.net.za

The Seventeen87 Wine Cellar at Sugar Rush Park in Ballito on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast caught the bouquet when it came tops in the Small Business Start-up category at the 2021 Standard Bank KZN Top Business Hybrid Awards. The Seventeen87 Wine Cellar was launched in October 2020 by Enterprise iLembe to offer locals and visitors an experiential tourism offering: a combination of “history and wine”. The idea of the wine cellar and tasting room was borne from the initial Vineyards & Winery Project which was conceptualized by Enterprise iLembe with funding assistance from the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. The brand Seventeen87 pays homage to the King of the Zulu Nation, King Shaka who was born in 1787. In light of the many businesses impacted by COVID-19, the award received by Enterprise iLembe is all the more significant as it represents start-up businesses that have turned an idea into a successful business despite the challenges of the pandemic. In the Small Business Start-up category businesses were judged on how they coped with challenges, particularly given the circumstances of 2020. Cheryl Peters, Acting CEO at Enterprise iLembe Economic Development Agency said she is still overwhelmed by this amazing accomplishment and is incredibly proud of the team at Enterprise iLembe led by project officer Daniel Maerkl who put all their energy and effort into making this creative idea a success story. “This award gives makes us proud that we were able to complete and launch this project during the pandemic. “We are grateful for all the support received to date and we look forward to hosting more locals and tourists at the Seventeen87 Wine Cellar to give them the best of what we have to offer,” she said. Chairperson of Enterprise iLembe Board Xolani Gumede said, “It could not have been easy for the judges to select a winner because there are so many great start-up businesses in KZN. “I was blown away when we received the award. This award displays the dedication and amount of hard work achieved by the team at Enterprise iLembe, despite the many challenges faced during the past year.” Media Enquiries, contact: Tel: 032 9461256 cheryl@enterpriseilembe.co.za