Jozi women dump speeches for business

24 August 2015

 

Every National Women’s Month, women are put on a pedestal, with long speeches made and songs sung to celebrate their heroism.

 

But the City of Johannesburg looks set to do a lot more following the introduction by the Spousal Office of the Women in Entrepreneurship Week, which made its debut at the Joburg Theatre last week. The event was described as “a huge success” by Pilisiwe Twala-Tau, wife of Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau.

 

About 1 000 women met at the theatre over five days to network and debate a wide range of business issues. They walked away enriched after making friends and establishing partnerships. Five women whose pitches were adjudged the best in their respective sectors walked away with fabulous prizes. One of the women won a sub-contract from the Johannesburg Roads Agency. Other prizes included website development, business plan writing and an all-expenses paid year-long business mentorship programme.

 

“We’ve had an interesting networking session. The women were taken through the steps to becoming compliant so that when they bid for tenders, their documents are in order,” said Twala-Tau.

 

“The women were also urged to sift their needs from their wants. For example, you can have 20 dresses but you only wear one at a time,” she said. One of the winners, Joyce Makhutla of Orange Farm, makes a living by turning recycled plastic into eye-catching clothing. The grandmother of one has been operating from her home for the past two years.

 

“My company, Kgutlang Development Enterprises, makes dresses, shoes and hats from recycled plastic. It takes me less than a week to knit a dress. I sell a complete dress for R850. I learnt a bit of knitting at school. My late mother used to knit with wool. I do the same thing, but using plastic,” said Makhutla, who won a year-long business mentorship programme courtesy of the City.

 

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development Councillor Nonceba Molwele, who was one of the judges, said the week-long event was an eye-opener.

 

“It was amazing that people see business opportunities from what ordinary people like us consider waste. The dresses made from waste are beautiful,” she said.

Another winner, Sylvia Ravhutulu, CEO of Bold and Beautiful SA, said the days of flying solo were numbered.

 

“You can’t eat alone. It’s only when you share, that you succeed,” said Ravhutulu.MMC for Corporate Services Councillor Mally Mokoena said she was impressed by the quality of the presentations and how the participants also offered solutions to the challenges faced by other women.

 

“There was a suggestion that efforts be made to enable businesses to access tender documents online. As a champion of the Smart City initiative, I will instruct the IT Department to look into the matter.”

 

Twala-Tau said the recommendations from the event would be compiled into a report in two weeks' time.

 

“Hopefully, by the end of September we will hold our first roundtable discussion. We don’t want to lose the momentum,” she said.