BUSINESSWOMAN STANDING HER GROUND IN THE TOUGH WORLD OF ENGINEERING. SERITI’S WOMEN IN MINING PROGRAMME
“Don’t limit your ability just because you are a woman” Zoe Sibawu (The Women in Mining programme)
Eastern Cape born and bred businesswoman Zoe Sibawu moved to Mpumalanga twelve years ago and has been taking on the local mechanical and civil engineering landscape since 2008. Her company, Ezobuhle Trading Enterprises in eMalahleni now specialises in plant hire and particularly in 100-ton multi-axle lowbeds.
Zoe is currently undergoing business training and mentoring as part of Seriti’s sponsored Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) The Women in Mining programme, which was launched in May this year. This programme was developed and is being managed by Collective Value Creation (CVC) over the next eighteen months.
Also read: Women in Mining – Phuti Sibanda participates in Seriti’s programme
CVC’s Managing Director Wybrand Ganzevoort, says the programme’s twenty entrepreneurs will be skilled and their companies developed to grow, thus increasing their competitiveness and ability to attract further business.
It is especially this aspect of the programme which appeals to Zoe as she hopes to improve herself thereby benefitting the company and its fifteen employees. As with so many businesses, the last two years proved to be challenging and impacted negatively on the company’s order book. According to her, she has already learnt much about improving her company’s processes and procedures and she wishes to learn more about marketing the company’s services and obtaining financial opportunities. On top of learning from the mentors and trainers, the entrepreneurs in the programme benefit from sharing contacts and best practices.
Zoe has only positive comments on the programme and her fellow trainees. “Speaking to these ladies, I realise I am actually doing fine and that us women are much stronger than we think.”
Her career was launched when she landed a position as a trainee engineer at a dolomite mine. She recalls that when she registered the company as a young, part-time student in mining and mineral processing, she landed a contract but lacked the finances. Her mother and high school sweetheart – now husband – stepped in to ensure she had the financial needs to see the contract to fruition.
In 2019 her husband, a civil engineer, joined her in the business. Although Zoe jokes that she is still the boss – at the office and at home, she is full of praise for her man being the “civil brains” of the business and sharing the load of business and caretaker of the children and home.
This vibrant businesswoman and mother of three young daughters enjoy travelling, especially to the Garden Route, taking walks to relax and loves to watch science fiction movies.
Zoe’s advice to other women who wants to start a similar business is to “accept it won’t be easy. You must have perseverance, thick skin and always give your best in what you do. You will be doubted but don’t let that bring you down or discourage you from your dreams. And when you feel overwhelmed, which you will when things aren’t going well, take time to breath, re-evaluate your plan and be kind to yourself.”
Seriti’s ESD programmes aim to develop local SMMEs to create a pipeline of supply chain-ready businesses that can secure procurement opportunities both inside and outside Seriti and develop existing local suppliers and SMMEs to enable them to realise the scale and drive supplier diversity in their supply chain.
Nyaniso Rapiya, Preferential Procurement & ESD Lead said: “Seriti continues to introduce initiatives aimed at developing communities surrounding our operations and the Women in Mining ESD programme is one such initiative. We base our Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) policies and actions to support the country’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) strategy in order to redress historical socio-economic imbalances.
Through this Women-focused programme, they believe they are able to grow and sustain Women entrepreneurs, enabling them to enter the economy and augment the creation of employment through their successful businesses.
This programme will be run by Collective Value Creation (CVC) over the next eighteen months and emphasises Seriti’s focus on women empowerment.
