This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. < Back Camilla Jones Content Manager This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. info@mysite.com 123-456-7890

An international media production company based in Durban, South Africa, with a branch in Norwich, UK . He’s also the founder of Wade Howard Photography and, since 2010, has led Ocean Driven Media—specializing in professional photography, videography, video production, and live streaming for corporate events, documentaries, weddings, and conferences Subscribe Home KZN Leaders Up Up Wade Howard An international media production company based in Durban, South Africa, with a branch in Norwich, UK . He’s also the founder of Wade Howard Photography and, since 2010, has led Ocean Driven Media—specializing in professional photography, videography, video production, and live streaming for corporate events, documentaries, weddings, and conferences

< Back Blueberry Cheesecake Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 45 Minutes Serves: 4 Servings Level: Intermediate About the Recipe This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Ingredients ingredient 1 ingredient 2 ingredient 3 ingredient 4 ingredient 5 ingredient 6 ingredient 7 ingredient 8 Preparation Step 1 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Step 2 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Step 3 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Step 4 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Previous Next

< Back Nontetho Smith Founder and Managing Director of Uthingo Mills Nontetho Smith was born in Nquthu, a rural town in northern KwaZulu-Natal. She later moved with her family to Durban. Today, she is the founder and managing director of Uthingo Mills, a successful agri-processing company producing one of South Africa’s most essential staple foods. Alongside this, she also runs a non-profit organisation, Look Up Ark, which supports people battling with addiction and alcoholism by helping them find recovery. In addition, she manages a small record label dedicated to South African gospel music, nurturing a few artists. Through her non-profit work, Nontetho regularly visits schools, gives talks on radio, and partners with organi sations addressing gender-based violence to discuss the link between substance abuse and domestic harm. For Nontetho, each of these ventures represents more than just business. “I have always been inspired to do something purposeful,” she says. “With my journey being one of recovery from addiction, that has become my inspiration to help others get to where I am.” CHILDHOOD MEMORIES Nontetho’s venture into maize milling can be traced back to her childhood. She recalls how her grandmother and great-grandmother would grind maize using a manual grinding machine to make maize meal for the community. “We never used to get a lot of visitors, but every Friday or Saturday, people would come to collect maize meal,” she remembers warmly. Years later, while listening to a radio interview in which a government official mentioned the lack of women in agriculture, that memory returned vividly. “The picture of my grandmother grinding maize came into my mind,” she says. That decision marked the birth of Uthingo Mills, an enterprise built with the vision of providing an affordable, high-quality product while creating jobs and uplifting communities. “When I studied marketing, I learnt that maize meal is a staple product,” she explains. “Even during Covid, when everything shut down, food remained a necessity.” For Nontetho, the true value of her company lies in the people who make it thrive. “I pay a lot of attention to the person, not just the deliverables,” she explains. “I take an interest in who I bring into my space, what their goals are, and how I can help make their lives better.” She recalls one story that reflects her leadership philosophy. “I needed someone to handle merchandising, and a young man was recommended to me,” she says. “He had been unemployed for five years and borrowed money just to come to the interview.” That man is now one of her most dedicated employees. “He has helped me get into shops I never thought I could reach. When people see that you value them, they give you their best.” BUILDING BEYOND BARRIERS Starting a maize milling business required not only vision but also immense financial courage. It took her three years to raise the required capital. She secured a contract with Spar even before she had the funds to begin production. “They told me that when I was ready, I could bring my brand in,” she says. “That opportunity gave me the leverage to raise the money.” Today, Uthingo Mills supplies to a range of distributors across KwaZulu-Natal, from KwaMashu and Phoenix to Kokstad and the South Coast. With the assistance of her husband, Chris Smith, the company has expanded into Gauteng, including Soweto and Johannesburg. “Our next goal is Limpopo,” she says. Her ambitions stretch beyond national borders. “There are opportunities in Congo and Zambia because they often buy from South Africa,” she explains. However, the path to success has not been without obstacles. “Maize meal is very price-sensitive,” Nontetho says. “If you are not in many regions, it is difficult to negotiate better prices or get discounts on packaging and supplies. Every time we grow into a new region, we need the same amount of capital to sustain that growth.” Mentorship has played a crucial role in her entrepreneurial development. At a milling conference in Johannesburg, she met a seasoned expert who became a long-term mentor. “Frans Duur has been my mentor for more than ten years now and has never failed to take my call.” His guidance helped her understand production processes, quality standards, and cost management. Reflecting on her own experience, Nontetho believes mentorship is indispensable for anyone starting a business. “It is important to understand the industry you are entering and whether it is profitable and sustainable,” she advises. “Get people who have been there before to guide you, even if only for a short time.” ALIGNED WITH PURPOSE Despite her busy schedule, Nontetho remains committed to her passion for helping others through Look Up Ark. “It is so fulfilling when someone calls to say, ‘I have not had a drink in three months because of what you said,’” she says. “Moments like that remind me why I do what I do.”Faith and spirituality also play a central role in her life. “I am a woman of faith, so prayer and meditation work for me,” she says. “There is a day called the Sabbath, a day of rest, when I switch off my phone and focus on recharging.” She also finds joy and relaxation through music, often listening to the gospel artists she manages. To the younger generation, Nontetho offers advice grounded in experience. “Try to align your work with your purpose,” she says. “There will be difficult times, and if your work does not fulfil you, it is easier to give up.” She recalls a conversation with a friend who had retired early but found herself unhappy. “She told me she had made enough money and now spends her mornings drinking because she feels purposeless,” Nontetho explains. “There needs to be something more than just making money. For me, purpose lies in helping people, whether through feeding communities, providing jobs, or guiding someone through recovery.” Her story is one of vision and perseverance. “At the end of the day,” she reflects, “if what I do touches even one life, then it has all been worth it." Previous Next

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Kervin Budram Next Previous Kervin Budram heads up the finance department of Aberdare Cables Kervin Budram heads up the finance depart- ment of Aberdare Cables. Alongside his finance responsibilities, he takes on business analyst roles and some general management duties. His journey began and continues in the City of Pieter- maritzburg. Kervin attended various primary schools before completing his high school education at Heather Secondary School, where he matriculated. After finishing school, Kervin initially pursued studies in electronic engineering. However, due to financial constraints to support his studies, Kervin worked part-time, which caused him to change career paths, choosing finance and business studies. Kervin mentioned that while studying electronics engineering, he worked part-time at Tastic Rice Mills. His days were challenging, attending lectures from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and then working night shifts from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to sustain himself. “It was quite difficult,” he recalls, as he balanced work and studies. EVOLVING CAREER Kervin started his professional journey as a data capture clerk in the creditors’ department of Aber- dare Cables. While working, he pursued a national diploma in financial and corporate accounting, majoring in accounting and law. He later went on to complete postgraduate studies (passed Cum laude), including the Programme for Management Development at the University of Cape Town (completed with distinction). Kervin’s academic growth paralleled his career advancement, moving from a data capture clerk to a creditors’ clerk, and eventually into cost accounting roles. He became a cost analyst, then a cost accountant, and finally, a financial controller, a position he held for several years. During his time as a financial controller, Kervin was introduced to SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products), specialising in financial and costing aspects. He attended the SAP Graduate School in Sandton, where he honed his skills in this area. When asked about his purpose in his current role, Kervin emphasises continuous growth and improvement. “I think we all seek to see some kind of continuous growth and improvement, to just be better than where we were before,” he says. He believes in striving to be better each day, whether through small, gradual improvements or major breakthroughs, both for himself and for the company. ETHICS AND INTEGRITY One of Kervin’s proudest accomplishments came early in his career while studying electronics engineering. At the time, he was working in a subsidised repair centre. One day, an elderly lady who was a pensioner brought in a television set that only needed a small repair, costing just a few rands. However, the owner of the business insisted on charging her an exorbitant amount. Kervin stood his ground, refusing to overcharge her. “I will struggle, but I will do it ethically,” he told the owner. This experience led Kervin to leave the repair business and enter the cable industry, where he has remained ever since. “Standing up for what I believed was right at the time might seem insignificant to others, but it was a significant accomplishment for me as it opened another door while keeping my ethics and integrity intact,” he reflected. In terms of the best advice he has received, Kervin fondly remembers a teacher who encouraged students to envision their future. The teacher would ask them to ‘Envision where we see ourselves in one year, five years, ten years’ time and to dream big’. This advice had a lasting impact on Kervin, who continues to set goals and chase after his dreams. Kervin has faced many challenges throughout his career but is indeed grateful to his close circle of family and friends who helped him overcome many obstacles in both his work and personal life. STAY OPTIMISTIC Keeping his team motivated during challenging times is something Kervin takes seriously. “I tend to be the one who almost always goes around smiling or creating a smile in others,” he says. Kervin understands that if he stays optimistic, his team is likely to follow suit. He focuses on highlighting the good in situations and encourages his team to look beyond the challenges. “If they see that you are looking forward and you’re leading from the front, then they tend to follow you and go by your lead.” Kervin draws inspiration from various sources, including books and successful people around him. The stories of people who have overcome challenges to achieve success are a source of motivation. “I love success stories... and just putting my hand to the plough with them,” he says. Looking ahead, Kervin is optimistic about the future of KwaZulu-Natal. Despite the challenges and low economic growth, he believes in the potential for positive change. “We’re going to have a much better five years to come than probably the last five or even ten years that we’ve had,” he says. Kervin finds inspiration in the diverse opportunities in the region and the resilience of the people working to make a difference. “At work we’ve got a thing called ‘Gemba’ which is Japanese for ‘go and see’. A lot of us sit behind our desks and read online or in the newspapers how bleak things might be. But when we go and see, you suddenly see how much growth potential is out there.” In his personal life, Kervin actively seeks opportunities to serve the community, mainly through churches and non-profit organisations. He is a director on the board of the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business. Kervin continues to study, and recently completed his studies at the Calvary Bible Institute, finishing as the top student and passing summa cum laude. He is also building quite a reputation as a Toastmaster, master of ceremony and even a stand- up comedian! Together with his wife, Kogi, Kervin is part of KwaZulu-Natal Aquatics, initially fulfilling the role of timekeeper and recently as a judge in the various swimming galas within the province. He pursues this avenue to be close to his twin daughters who aspire to swim at the highest level. Kervin lives by a motto shared by one of his teachers: “Hang loose but stay vibrantly alive.” It is a motto that is real challenge but reflects his approach to life and work. Previous Next

Merrill says that she lives her life to the absolute fullest and states, "If you are not living on the edge you are taking up too much space." She is an avid sportsperson and enjoys spending time in the gym, paddling or running to stay fit and 'to ensure a flow of endorphinsMerrill KingMerrill says that she lives her life to the absolute fullest and states, "If you are not living on the edge you are taking up too much space." She is an avid sportsperson and enjoys spending time in the gym, paddling or running to stay fit and 'to ensure a flow of endorphinsMERRILL KING, joint managing director of Capitol Caterers, has had a 36-year career in the food industry. "I wake up every day and I am really excited to go to work. Every day is full of challenges, deadlines and new experiences," she says. Merrill qualified as a chef through the trainee programme at the Royal Hotel in Durban. This culinary background has served her well, providing Merrill with a thorough knowledge of food preparation and service. Pursuing her passion for excellence on the plate, Merrill founded Blue Strawberry, a high-end catering service to corporate and private clients in Durban. On relocating to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in 1992, Merrill sold Blue Strawberry and it continues to operate with an impeccable reputation to this day. Merrill served as group executive chef for a period of twenty years at Capitol Caterers and was appointed joint managing director in 2017. Headquartered in Pietermaritzburg, Capitol Caterers was founded in 1992 by her husband Giles who as chairman, plays an active role in the business. The industrial catering company is currently entering its 27th year of service and caters for over 100 clients in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Free State, Gauteng as well as in Eswatini. Capitol Caterers core business is providing contract catering services to the education, healthcare, commercial and retirement sectors. Valuing relationships Merrill says that much of her time is spent travelling to the regional offices to ensure that these operations are well supported. In addition, she values the relationships that she has developed with her staff and she strives to understand their needs and ensure that they are happy. "My life has changed from being hands on and working in all our kitchens, to managing people and the business side of Capitol Caterers' daily operations," she explained. "I am inspired and humbled every day by the women on our staff. Many of them need to be at work by 6am and before leaving home they first tend to their family needs and then walk and catch buses to get to work and still serve our clients with a smile! They are the face of the company." However, in assessing the role of women in business, Merrill says that she thinks that women's roles are often undermined. "As much as one constantly strives for equality, discrimination is still alive and well. It has been, and still is, a tough struggle for women to be taken seriously, even though huge strides have been made in this area." Consequently, Merrill believes that much of her professional journey can be attributed to the support of the women in Capitol Caterers. "I believe that I am a successful woman in business because of all the women that I work with. We employ 1496 staff and of that 74% are women with 82% of our management positions being held by women. This shows that women aren't there just to wash the pots, clean the floors and make the odd salad. Women are the reason why catering companies such as ours are successful in South Africa." Merrill added that because women often rely on the support and strength of other women, they have become collaborative in the workplace. "A collaborative style of leadership is how I work at Capitol Caterers, ensuring input from all divisions when decisions are to be made, which generally results in ownership and buy in from everyone." Striving for excellence Capitol Caterers not only keeps up with food trends but ensures that all the food that is prepared in their kitchens is nutritious, fulfils a wide range of dietary needs while being beautifully presented and within budget. In order to ensure that the staff are skilled, Capitol Caterers has registered Midlands Hospitality Academy (MHA), which is accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and CATHSSETA. "We used to believe that we needed to be the best that we can be. However nowadays, it is more important to ensure that our staff are upskilled and supported enough to ensure they are the best that they can be, and better than me," explained Merrill. "The success of a person should not be on how good you are but on how good your staff are at getting the job done. This approach ensures that the business can run effectively when you are not there to supervise." Life balance Merrill says that she lives her life to the absolute fullest and states, "If you are not living on the edge you are taking up too much space." She is an avid sportsperson and enjoys spending time in the gym, paddling or running to stay fit and 'to ensure a flow of endorphins.' A competitive canoeist, Merrill has won several agecategory gold medals in the Dusi and Fish River Marathons as well as a silver medal with partner, Sonja Bohnsack, at the World Marathon Canoeing Championships in Pietermaritzburg in 2017. She hopes to complete her 16th Dusi in 2020. Merrill has also competed in running events including two Comrades Marathons and five Two Oceans ultra-marathons. Merrill was the first woman to hold the position of president of Canoeing South Africa, which she occupied from 2008-2010. She is a long-serving board member of the South African Confederation of Sport and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). Whenever possible, Merrill enjoys relaxing with her husband, their three children and grandson. Cheryl Govender CHERYL GOVENDER is the founder and owner of The Cake House in Pietermaritzburg. She is a qualified chef and professional cake artist. The Cake House has become a leading provider of designer cakes including engineered life-size cakes. Cheryl's exceptional cakes, each a masterpiece, have been featured in magazines and on television, and The Cake House is recognised as a leader in new age sugarcraft. Cheryl is inspired by successful bakeries and cake artists. She explains, "This is a tough industry and requires not only talent, but a business mind, people skills, market insight, tenacity, and continuous learning and growth." One of her biggest inspirations is Buddy Valastro, an American baker who is the star of the reality television series 'Cake Boss'. Be clear about what must be achieved Cheryl believes she got to where she is now and reached her goals by being clear about what she needed to achieve and why she needed to achieve them. She says her career started when she was fourteen when she was handed down decorating tools that her sister no longer needed. "Although I was a real tomboy, beating the boys at their own games in the streets, I did girly stuff when I went home, like playing with cake decorating tools and my dolls," she laughed. Cheryl learned about sugar art by reading books from the municipal library and often left the kitchen in a mess after experimenting. Her Consumer Studies teacher recognised Cheryl's talent; arranged for her to attend a cake decorating course, and gave her a toolset, which she treasures to this day. This teacher, now a retired school principal, adopted Cheryl as a daughter, helped her to believe in herself, and became her mentor to this day. Cheryl won a Consumer Studies Inter School Award in matric due to her passion for cake decorating, but at that time she considered it a hobby, not a career. After a year at college, Cheryl married and became a mother. She joined the corporate world but kept on making decorated cakes as a hobby to supplement her income. When her son was two years old, Cheryl entered and won the Pietermaritzburg Royal Show sugarcraft competition. This led to her teaching sugarcraft on a part-time basis at the now FET College in Northdale, something she continued passionately for 25 years. This Cheryl said, was fulfilling: "empowering women has always been close to my heart". Focus on one thing and do it well Cheryl gained wide experience in the corporate world, including ten years in shipping and international travel, before she started her own export business. This business crashed during the worldwide financial crisis of 2008 and she "fell back on her hands", starting a food catering business that also provided cakes. Cheryl made a few designer cakes assuming there was little market for these due to the high prices, but word of her quality and expertise spread and orders increased. A traumatic divorce, the demands of being involved in catering, wedding décor, training and making cakes at the same time, made her realise that she needed to streamline her activities. In 2012 she decided to focus on one thing only and do it well and opened The Cake House. Cheryl, a single mom had herself, her mother's assistance, two children, and a house. As she had lost her vehicle, Cheryl went everywhere in running shoes while carrying cake ingredients and other items in a backpack. Nothing was handed to her; she had no money and could not get a bank loan. Cheryl understood the risks involved but her faith and trust in God helped her. She managed to buy all her industrial baking equipment from a helpful appliance store on a three-month cash basis. Her business remains debt-free to this day. Business skills are unrelated to gender In Cheryl's view, women and men need the same business approach, as the skills required for a successful business are unrelated to gender. "Tenacity, hard work, honesty, patience and endurance are equally required from men and women." She does, however, concede that women face more challenges. She has had to face abuse, being a mother, and a divorce. Achieving a work-life balance boils down to discipline for Cheryl. "It is necessary to make time for your family and yourself, and also to rest, but not working can be scary for a business owner with much to do," she says. "I've had to learn to set boundaries, say no, and cut myself off from work when it's time to relax and unwind." Gardening, time with her family and puppies, and doing things outside of the business help create a balance. Brand ambassador Cheryl is happy with what she has accomplished thus far and readily give others credit. Without her mother, she could not have set up The Cake House. Without the help of her husband Alan, her family, and staff members, she would not have been able to grow the business. She feels honoured having recently being appointed a brand ambassador with royal status, for Rolkem Colours, one of the world's largest food colourant providers. While Cheryl is satisfied with the place she has reached, she is not comfortable about remaining there. Cheryl dreams of making the province proud of The Cake House as a tourism attraction. With a growing support structure in place, she is prepared to take risks within her means and take the business to the next level. Back

KZN Nexus Nexus Dashboard Logout Please log in to view your dashboard. My Business Profile Connectors Club Details Key Personnel Subscriptions Coupons Heading 1 Trading Name 2010 Tier: Connectors Club CONTACT DETAILS Title: paragraph First Name: paragraph Last Name: paragraph Job Title paragraph Email Address paragraph Mobile Number paragraph Office Number paragraph COMPANY DESCRIPTION Industry (Primary Category) paragraph Seconday Category paragraph Other category paragraph Tertiary Category paragraph Core Products paragraph Company Description paragraph COMPANY DETAILS Company Registration Number paragraph VAT Number paragraph Year Established paragraph B-BBEE Level paragraph Address paragraph Website paragraph Edit Business Profile CEO DETAILS CEO Email Address Upgrade to Connectors Club Add Personnel Add Personnel Add a Title Change the text and make it your Change the text and make it your Phone Edit Remove CEO DETAILS CEO Email Address Join The Connectors Club CEO DETAILS CEO Name CEO Email Address Phone Reviews View Reviews Key Achievements / Awards CEO Name SOCIAL MEDIA Edit Connectors Club Details View Connectors Profile Add Personnel Add a Title Change the text and make it your Change the text and make it your Phone Connectors Club Edit Remove Your Benefits I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Add Personnel Add a Title Change the text and make it your Change the text and make it your Transaction type Expiry Date: Expiry Date: Terms & Conditions CODE: CANNNNEDU Copy Code Claim Voucher Transaction type Add Personnel Add a Title Change the text and make it your Change the text and make it your Transaction type Expiry Date: Expiry Date: Transaction type CODE: CANNNNEDU Copy Code Copy Code Transaction type Transaction type

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Back PLEASE COMPLETE PART ONE & PART TWO Entries Close 12 June 2026 First Name Last Name Email Phone Company CATEGORIES Date established No of employees Name of account/ auditor Bank CEO Managing Director Marketing Director Financial Manager Other Street Address City Region/State/Province Postal / Zip code Company web address ENTRY COMPLETED BY Your Position Email (directl) Code Phone PART TWO: ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS (The total word count should not exceed 3000 words) Question 1. a) Provide an overview of the company/organisation’s products and services in KZN b) How does company contribute to the KZN economy? Question 2: Leadership a) Explain the management/ governing body structure b) How does leadership take responsibility for the company’s performance, culture and impact? c) What policies and systems are in place to ensure compliance with laws, regulations and industry standards? Question 3: Ethical culture Explain how your organisation defines and promotes ethical behaviour across all levels of the business? Question 4: Good performance and value creation Please provide the latest annual report if applicable (public company) or provide a letter from your accountant stating that your finances are sound. Question 5 Trust, good reputation, legitimacy Explain how the company communicates and interacts with all its stakeholders – internally and externally to ensure its relationships are effectively managed. Question 6 Explain why your company should win a KZN Top Business award in the category selected. Provide evidence for your success/impact? (Project completion, financial success, report, photos, testimonials from clients, employees, beneficiaries etc. Send or wetransfer PART TWO to Gayle@mweb.co.za Data Privacy Consent I acknowledge that my personal information is important and will be processed by Standard Bank and necessary third parties in line with the applicable data protection laws and the Privacy Statement. I have understood the contents of the Privacy Statement Marketing Consent I agree or decline to have my personal information used for marketing purposes as follows: 1. Data sharing within our The Standard Bank Group 2. Data sharing with Third Parties 3. Data sharing across borders within our Group 4. Telesales 5. Email Marketing 6. SMS Marketing I acknowledge and consent to the sharing of my information Consent & Rights I understand that I have the right to update or withdraw my consent at any time by: Visiting a Standard Bank branch. Contacting my Relationship Manager. Calling 0860 123 000. Emailing information@standardbank.co.za. Logging into the Standard Bank online channels. I acknowledge and consent to the sharing of my information SUBMIT