< Back Victoria Ngwenya Next As head of Retail and Business Banking in KwaZulu-Natal, Victoria is responsible for overseeing operations across the personal and business banking segments including the bank's extensive branch network, ATMs, private banking suites and small and medium enterprises VICTORIA NGWENYA credits her father for his role in her success. "From an early age, my father instilled in me an appreciation of the value of a great education and a strong work ethic. I wouldn't be where I am today without having either of these and, of course, lots of luck." As head of Retail and Business Banking in KwaZulu-Natal, Victoria is responsible for overseeing operations across the personal and business banking segments including the bank's extensive branch network, ATMs, private banking suites and small and medium enterprises. It's been a journey, and she's had to work hard to earn her stripes in the corporate world, but she's had some impressive role models. "Admittedly, it's been a great help and source of inspiration to have phenomenal leadership in banking today." Changing the narrative "Financial services is a tough industry," she says, "and one that, in the past, marginalised a lot of black people, particularly women. But there's a wave of incredible executives, both women and men, that are deliberate about and committed to changing the narrative. I draw lot of inspiration and courage from these leaders for their resoluteness." "Our very own, Sim Tshabalala CEO of Standard Bank, is an absolute icon, and Funeka Montjane, our Chief Executive of Personal and Business Banking, is a remarkable visionary and leader. She started out in banking very young and has had a long impressive career." Victoria also singles out Raisibe Morathi, CFO of Nedbank. "Raisibe has played a critical role in my personal growth and in my career development. She's been very instrumental as a mentor and has taken a keen interest in me and selflessly guided me up the corporate ladder." Since joining Standard Bank, Victoria says she's also very fortunate to work with a very inspiring leader, Imraan Noorbhai. "He's taken a very hands-on approach to immerse me in the retail business. My previous experience is in corporate and investment banking, and retail banking is quite different - this is a people business and it is driven by volume. It's fantastic and a great privilege to work with Imraan who has a wealth of knowledge in this business." Invest in yourself and your career A firm believer in continually investing in yourself and your career, Victoria is inspired by phenomenal women. "Women have always been marginalised, and we need to work a lot harder to earn our place at the table than men do. That's the reality of the corporate journey. It has certainly changed somewhat over the last few years," she concedes, "but we still have to do ten times more than men to succeed. We need a stronger work ethic and more flexibility than men." There's still a lot to be done Victoria considers herself fortunate to work for an organisation that appreciates, supports and promotes talent, especially black female talent, but she points out that young male black talent is often sidelined as well. "The talent that young black women bring to the boardroom table is all too often undermined," says Victoria, "and corporate South Africa is missing out on what they have to offer. I'm proud of what I've accomplished. I've come a long way as a woman executive in banking. But the road remains hard and long, and there's a lot more that needs to be done; women are still under-represented at executive level in most corporates globally. We need to lift each other up and be deliberate about getting more women into executive seats. That's how we'll make the biggest change." When asked about work-life balance, Victoria shakes her head. "That's the biggest myth ever for a woman." But she also points out that she's extremely lucky to have a supportive partner whose also her biggest cheerleader and a very active and involved parent. "Without him, I wouldn't be able to work the long hours and do all the travelling my job requires of me." Victoria is also fortunate to have a great support structure in the form of family and friends who are always ready to step in when they're needed. "So no, I don't have a great work-life balance, but I prioritise. It's important for me to have time for myself, doing things that refuel me - be it gym or meditation. Equally important is time with my family and friends. And I also find time to plan how I want to give back to other young women. It can't just be about me; true success for me is about the power of the collective." Victoria points out that women tend to be very hard on themselves, and if she could give one piece of advice to her younger self it would be this: "Be kind to yourself. Spend more time discovering your purpose, your passions and what makes you happy. Own your interests and make time for them while you're young." Previous Next

Sometimes you will not be celebrated along the journey; people celebrate at the end, but that does not make your goal impossible < Back Nozuko Basson Regional Manager for Communities and Corporate Affairs Tronox South Africa Nozuko Basson’s role at Tronox, which is based in northern KZN, entails making sure that the mining company honours its responsibility of creating value for its stakeholders, of which, communities take centre stage. The most significant event in Nozuko’s life is, she says, when she became a mother. “I had my daughter when I was fairly young and from the moment she arrived in this world, I knew that the game had changed. It’s an ambition of mine, that when my daughter is asked who your role model is, she mentions my name.” In ensuring that she is an inspiration to her daughter, Nozuko constantly evaluates how she behaves, how she practices professionalism in the workplace, and how she treats other people. Nozuko believes that she has got to where she is today through hard work, dedication, a lot of praying and the support from many people who have crossed her path. “I’m somebody who is focused on her religion. I’m a Christian and I’ve always believed that everything that I do is enabled by my faith. I started my career as a journalist, but I realised that was not the life that I wanted to live. I’m not a social and out-there type of person, so I moved into public relations. I was fortunate to work for an agency where I had an amazing mentor who helped me in building the capability to understand how media relations works.” From there, Nozuko moved onto one of South Africa’s largest medical insurance organisations, Discovery. Here, Nozuko said, she had mentors who helped guide her through her career. “I’ve been fortunate that I had other people lifting me, guiding me, and making sure that I stayed on the right track. My journey has been difficult; it’s always good to be reminded by those who are ahead of you how to remain positive and confident in what you are doing.” Having courage Nozuko says that her decision to move to KwaZulu-Natal has been an amazing journey that has required her to really stretch herself. This meant going into areas where she thought she would never be able to venture. She added, “Just having the courage to really push myself and push the boundaries for my team members so that we all work towards one single vision. This requires that we stay close to the cause and really live our own personal values, as well as the values of the organisation in which I work right now.” In commenting on the challenges that she has faced, Nozuko says that as a young female professional, the first challenge that she would like to focus on, is the “pull her down syndrome”. “When you, as a female, start rising in your career there are times when other females do everything in their power to pull you down. I have a strong view that if one of us rise, we all rise. It’s hard enough being a young female, let alone being black in the workplace; we need to hold each other up and motivate each other.” The second challenge she has faced is working in the mining industry, which is a male dominated sector. Over that, working within the community, which is also a male led environment that still subscribes to traditional practices has brought a great deal of learning, that has come with its own difficulties. Currently, the third challenge has been dealing with unconventional community issues, that pose a serious risk to Tronox’s public reputation. “This is where the company’s values, procedures and policies need to guide you to deal with the challenges in a manner that does not compromise your role or its reputation,” said Nozuko. “Lastly, I have often found myself feeling not quite welcome around the ‘table’, as if I am a token BEE candidate,” says Nozuko. “I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t wait for somebody to offer me a seat at the table. If there’s no seat for a female in the workplace or in this industry, you bring your own, and that’s something that I have really started being vocal about.” Leaving behind a legacy In the future, Nozuko wants to leave behind a legacy that says, “When Nozuko Basson was in that community or was working in that organisation, she made a positive difference.” In terms of her career, she sees herself growing from strength to strength. Right now, she is focused on her work in South Africa, but soon, she wants to share her knowledge and skills with the rest of the world. Nozuko added that she is fortunate to work for an organisation that has the platform that will allow her to do so when the time is right. On the personal side, Nozuko wants to travel the world. “I want to touch other lives in my own personal space. I want to live my best life and it’s something that I’m making a deliberate effort in doing and I know that I’m on the right track.” In advising others, she says, “It’s important not to be side-tracked by other people’s opinions. It’s important to remain true to yourself. It’s important that when you venture out, you understand that not everybody will be cheering for you, so learn to be your own cheerleader and as you’re cheering yourself, cheer those around you because they may not know the power that they have within themselves.” Nozuko believes one needs to put their heart into everything that they do. “I always say to people, if you’re not going to give it your all, rather don’t start. I believe in dazzling people. One of Tronox’s values speaks to doing the right work, the right way in every aspect of our business and that’s really what I subscribe to. I don’t take short cuts; it’s about doing something right all the time. It’s behaving in an ethical way and ensuring that everything I touch, doesn’t only represent organisational integrity, but also my own personal integrity.”

As with any entrepreneur, your experiences build you and that’s the way to get to the top of your pyramid < Back Nozuko Basson Regional Manager for Communities and Corporate Affairs Tronox South Africa Nozuko Basson’s role at Tronox, which is based in northern KZN, entails making sure that the mining company honours its responsibility of creating value for its stakeholders, of which, communities take centre stage. The most significant event in Nozuko’s life is, she says, when she became a mother. “I had my daughter when I was fairly young and from the moment she arrived in this world, I knew that the game had changed. It’s an ambition of mine, that when my daughter is asked who your role model is, she mentions my name.” In ensuring that she is an inspiration to her daughter, Nozuko constantly evaluates how she behaves, how she practices professionalism in the workplace, and how she treats other people. Nozuko believes that she has got to where she is today through hard work, dedication, a lot of praying and the support from many people who have crossed her path. “I’m somebody who is focused on her religion. I’m a Christian and I’ve always believed that everything that I do is enabled by my faith. I started my career as a journalist, but I realised that was not the life that I wanted to live. I’m not a social and out-there type of person, so I moved into public relations. I was fortunate to work for an agency where I had an amazing mentor who helped me in building the capability to understand how media relations works.” From there, Nozuko moved onto one of South Africa’s largest medical insurance organisations, Discovery. Here, Nozuko said, she had mentors who helped guide her through her career. “I’ve been fortunate that I had other people lifting me, guiding me, and making sure that I stayed on the right track. My journey has been difficult; it’s always good to be reminded by those who are ahead of you how to remain positive and confident in what you are doing.” Having courage Nozuko says that her decision to move to KwaZulu-Natal has been an amazing journey that has required her to really stretch herself. This meant going into areas where she thought she would never be able to venture. She added, “Just having the courage to really push myself and push the boundaries for my team members so that we all work towards one single vision. This requires that we stay close to the cause and really live our own personal values, as well as the values of the organisation in which I work right now.” In commenting on the challenges that she has faced, Nozuko says that as a young female professional, the first challenge that she would like to focus on, is the “pull her down syndrome”. “When you, as a female, start rising in your career there are times when other females do everything in their power to pull you down. I have a strong view that if one of us rise, we all rise. It’s hard enough being a young female, let alone being black in the workplace; we need to hold each other up and motivate each other.” The second challenge she has faced is working in the mining industry, which is a male dominated sector. Over that, working within the community, which is also a male led environment that still subscribes to traditional practices has brought a great deal of learning, that has come with its own difficulties. Currently, the third challenge has been dealing with unconventional community issues, that pose a serious risk to Tronox’s public reputation. “This is where the company’s values, procedures and policies need to guide you to deal with the challenges in a manner that does not compromise your role or its reputation,” said Nozuko. “Lastly, I have often found myself feeling not quite welcome around the ‘table’, as if I am a token BEE candidate,” says Nozuko. “I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t wait for somebody to offer me a seat at the table. If there’s no seat for a female in the workplace or in this industry, you bring your own, and that’s something that I have really started being vocal about.” Leaving behind a legacy In the future, Nozuko wants to leave behind a legacy that says, “When Nozuko Basson was in that community or was working in that organisation, she made a positive difference.” In terms of her career, she sees herself growing from strength to strength. Right now, she is focused on her work in South Africa, but soon, she wants to share her knowledge and skills with the rest of the world. Nozuko added that she is fortunate to work for an organisation that has the platform that will allow her to do so when the time is right. On the personal side, Nozuko wants to travel the world. “I want to touch other lives in my own personal space. I want to live my best life and it’s something that I’m making a deliberate effort in doing and I know that I’m on the right track.” In advising others, she says, “It’s important not to be side-tracked by other people’s opinions. It’s important to remain true to yourself. It’s important that when you venture out, you understand that not everybody will be cheering for you, so learn to be your own cheerleader and as you’re cheering yourself, cheer those around you because they may not know the power that they have within themselves.” Nozuko believes one needs to put their heart into everything that they do. “I always say to people, if you’re not going to give it your all, rather don’t start. I believe in dazzling people. One of Tronox’s values speaks to doing the right work, the right way in every aspect of our business and that’s really what I subscribe to. I don’t take short cuts; it’s about doing something right all the time. It’s behaving in an ethical way and ensuring that everything I touch, doesn’t only represent organisational integrity, but also my own personal integrity.”

< Back Serena Jagadasan Next Growing up in Phoenix, Serena knew people mattered and she needed a career where she could help others. She decided she wanted something in the medical field and settled on radiography and chose to study in Pretoria and it was in patient care that she really excelled When Serena Jagadasan qualified as a radiographer, she never dreamed she'd become the managing director of a retailing group with a staff of a 1000 people. Growing up in Phoenix, Serena knew people mattered and she needed a career where she could help others. She decided she wanted something in the medical field and settled on radiography and chose to study in Pretoria and it was in patient care that she really excelled. She loved her work, and the knowledge that she could make a difference for her patients. However, it wasn't long before she returned to Durban, married Ravi Jagadasan, and began her retail journey. Although neither of them had any retail experience, Ravi had been approached by Spar to open a store in Phoenix, an opportunity they couldn't pass up, and together they set out to grow the business. Now managing director of Starwood Investments and the Star Retailers Group, Serena leads her 'dream team' of 60 managers and a staff of 1000 people across nine business units: seven world-class Spar and Superspar stores, a wholesale bakery and an accredited training academy. She credits her husband with introducing her to the retail world, and describes him as her business partner and mentor. "He really is an exemplary person and an inspiration. I strive to emulate him," she says. She describes her shift from radiography to retailing as simple. "It's all about people. People matter. In radiography, my strength was patient care. In retail, my strength is still caring for people. But now it's my staff and my customers that I care for." The power of emotional intelligence Describing herself as a highly emotional, Serena certainly doesn't see this as a negative. "Women do behave differently in business, because we are emotional beings. And if you have high emotional intelligence (EQ), this is a real attribute. Successful leaders need a high EQ to understand behaviour and motivation, and as an emotionally intelligent leader you can generate greater loyalty and commitment in your staff, and motivate them to give of their best." When Serena talks about her staff her commitment is clear. "I strongly believe that human capital is our most valuable asset and I focus on that. I'm passionate about the people. I care, I show I care, and that's why our business is successful." Apart from the obvious demands of her role as managing director of a successful business, Serena also manages her roles as wife and mother to three boys under the age of nine with assurance. She is confident she has a good balance between work and the rest of her life. "It takes a good deal of planning, time management and self-management, but it's important to get it right and I make it a priority." Serena's an early riser and keeps a regular schedule. She hits the gym first thing in the morning before heading to work. "I'm strict about office hours and work from 9am to 3pm, so I have plenty of time with my boys." She also puts aside time for her husband, and says that spending time together on shared interests makes it easier to maintain their close bond and keep the spark alive. "We both love ballroom dancing so we do that twice a week, and we play golf too." Find your purpose Asked what advice she'd give her younger self, Serena doesn't hesitate. "Find your purpose as soon as possible," she says. "To live a fulfilled, contented, happy life, you need a purpose. Develop a clear understanding of who you are, find your purpose and you can be the highest version of yourself." And Serena certainly knows herself and her purpose. She attributes much of her success to her willpower. "I have the courage to take on challenges, the self-belief to stay the course when things get tough, and a heart strong enough to accept constructive criticism. I have a positive attitude to life and to business, and I accept that even when things don't go my way, I can learn and grow from the experience." Empowerment through education Serena is grateful for her accomplishments, and is clearly enjoying her journey, but she still has two major goals she's determined to achieve: "Firstly, I have a big goal for 2020. I completed a postgraduate diploma in business management a couple of years ago, but now I want to take it further, and I'm embarking on an MBA next year. Secondly, I want to see our employees grow too. Most of our staff have no tertiary education but empowering people is central to their growth, and education is a key part of that empowerment. So it was a clear strategic intent to introduce our Raising the Bar training academy. It is my goal to see that each one of our employees achieves at least an NQF2 qualification, and our academy is a vital part of achieving that goal." Previous Next

< Back Next > Carol McDonald Partner, Cox Yeats Attorneys Carol McDonald, a partner at Cox Yeats Attorneys in Durban, has carved out a career specialising in commercial and property law. At the firm, she plays a crucial role in the property and conveyancing team, handling the spectrum of residential transactions, commercial property deals, development projects, bond work and mining title registrations. Carol’s academic journey began at Westville Girls High, after which she explored the world before committing to a career in law. “I took two years off after school to see the world a little bit,” she explains. “But I always wanted to go into law, ever since I was in early high school — it seemed to come naturally to me.” This desire led her to the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she pursued an undergraduate degree in law and graduated top of her class. Following her articles, Carol returned to her studies to obtain notary and conveyancer qualifications. Her academic achievements did not stop there. Carol was awarded the prestigious Clarendon Scholarship to study at Oxford University, where she completed her master’s degree. “I still remember the first day we were in orientation,” she recalls, “the Dean said to us, ‘Look around, who’s sitting next to you. Make sure you remember their name. They might be a Nobel Prize winner one day’.” Carol stayed on in Oxford, working at the university before returning to South Africa and embarking on a career in corporate law. Striving for Balance Carol’s professional life has been marked by a willingness to embrace change. “I’ve changed paths a few times,” she admits, “gone from litigation, to academics, to conveyancing, and then to property and commercial law, which is where I find myself now.” At Cox Yeats, she likes to think that she has made an impact on the firm by bringing balance. “We have a great team of excellent attorneys, most of whom are top of their game, world-class practitioners. We all bring expert skills, but as a woman and a mother, I believe I bring an element of balance.” Carol’s approach to balancing work and personal life extends beyond her role at the firm. She has been involved in initiatives that support the broader legal community, including serving on the Legal Practitioners Council for KwaZulu-Natal. Here, she has actively worked to address practical challenges faced by practitioners, such as dealing with issues at the Deeds Office or ensuring the smooth delivery of municipal rates. “It’s not just about your firm making money,” she notes. “It’s about helping your colleagues succeed as well.” As someone who leads Cox Yeats’ corporate social responsibility initiatives, Carol takes pride in the firm’s engagement with the Amaoti High School. “We’ve been able to engage meaningfully and make a difference in a small section of our society. It is exciting and humbling to be a part of their journey,” she shares. The firm has provided support for the school’s matric camp, where learners stay on the premises from August until the end of their final exams to receive intensive support from educators and community members. In addition to providing essential items like mattresses and food, Cox Yeats has funded a drama studio, helping the school introduce drama as a matric subject. The firm has also funded a foundational reading educator, who works with learners struggling with literacy, ensuring they receive the support needed to be better prepared for their exams. “It’s a great initiative that makes a huge difference in uplifting the community,” she adds. Carol dreams of a better future for South Africa. “My biggest dream is for South Africa to pull together and overcome its challenges,” she reflects. “I want it to be a place where people want to live.” She is especially passionate about education reform, advocating for a holistic approach that provides children with more than just literacy and numeracy skills. “Education must include sporting, cultural opportunities and a rounded experience,” she argues, “because that’s what will truly change our country.” As a woman in a profession that has historically been male-dominated, Carol has faced her share of challenges. She recalls a particularly frustrating experience from her early career when, as an articled clerk, she was told she was “paid to type and look pretty’.” Carol did not hesitate to speak up: “I walked out the room and told them when they were ready for brains, I’d come back.” These experiences have not disappeared entirely, even as a partner. “There are still times when I interface with a client face-to-face, and they’ll assume I’m the secretary,” she explains. Despite such frustrations, Carol remains steadfast, approaching these situations with determination. “You’ve got to find your way in life,” she advises. “Set boundaries, know what you want, and make decisions that align with your goals.” To young women entering the legal field, Carol emphasises that you need to know what you are prepared to sacrifice and for how long. “Some things can be sacrificed for a season, but others, if neglected, are gone. You’ve got to keep a clear head about what you want and what you are prepared to do to get there, then put your head down and work for it.” Work-Life Balance Maintaining a work-life balance is no easy feat, especially in a demanding profession like law. For Carol, family is a priority. “You must make time for the people closest and dearest to you,” she says, “and ensure they know how much they mean to you.” In addition, Carol finds that exercise helps her manage stress and stay grounded. “I have a great group of running friends, and we’ve run the Comrades together. It’s a great opportunity to get fresh air and take your mind off work by setting a new challenge.” This year, Carol pushed herself further by taking up lifesaving—a pursuit outside her comfort zone. In the future Carol’s goal is to remain agile and to be open to opportunity. “I have managed to do that throughout my life, and I want to continue to follow opportunities and to not stagnate,” she concludes. < Previous Next >

< Back Busi Gumede Next BUSI GUMEDE is the founder and CEO of Goodlife Foods. The company provides natural kefir products, which offer probiotic and other health benefits, under the 'KePro' brand. Busi oversees the overall functioning of the company, formulates its products, manages production and marketing, and looks after customers BUSI GUMEDE is the founder and CEO of Goodlife Foods. The company provides natural kefir products, which offer probiotic and other health benefits, under the 'KePro' brand. Busi oversees the overall functioning of the company, formulates its products, manages production and marketing, and looks after customers. Busi was raised by her grandparents and "practically grew up in their trading store near Bulwer". Her biological mother was too young to take care of her and became like an older sister, whilst her grandmother became her mother and role model. "I tried to walk like she walked and to work as hard as she did," Busi says. Her family expected her to become a doctor, but she loathed working with blood and studied for a BTech, Food Science degree instead. After her studies, Busi moved to Cape Town and became a food selector for Woolworths and then a quality assurance manager for the Oceania group. On returning to Durban, she took over the family's traditional trading stores, transforming these into convenience supermarkets. However, changing shopping patterns, brought about by people in the townships buying goods elsewhere and criminal activities affected the business. After being shot at, hijacked, robbed and brutally assaulted, she closed the stores and lost almost everything she owned. Providing engineering services A marketing agreement with the advertising agency Ogilvy and a joint venture with Ikusasa Communi-cations followed. Busi offered marketing services to Eskom, but an opportunity to consult and help with their electrification drive followed instead. She had enough drive and vision, but no qualifications or staff. Fortune favoured her, however, as suitable people became available following Eskom staff retrenchments. Busi formed a company, Global Pact Consulting, recruited staff and commenced transmission and distribution work two months later. She acquired an understanding of engineering, and the business became successful, employing 450 people nationally. The future seemed bright until 2009 when, as Busi puts it, "the giant fell, taking us with it". Eskom failed to make payments for eight months, and banks turned on her company due to its Eskom link. Retrenchments became inevitable and the company downsized in 2012 focusing on smaller contracts. Feeling good Consequently, Busi became stressed and very sick. She had surgery, but realised she had to heal herself. On a friend's recommendation she tried kefir, which led to her amazing healing. Kefir which translates as 'feeling good' was however only available in limited quantities from health shops. Busi, perceiving a commercial opportunity; 'cheekily' contacted the Danish Dairy Board since Denmark is a world leading supplier. The board hosted her, and she learnt about the production, distribution and difficulties of growing kefir. This resulted in Busi founding Goodlife Foods and formulating products beyond what Denmark offered. She is proud of making breakthroughs in her own kitchen including developing unique spoon kefir, which is eaten like a yogurt. New processes were developed for the product that is now registered as a new dairy segment in South Africa and spelling changed to Kephir. The products are available on a small scale in KwaZulu-Natal, but a production facility is being built near Lions River to produce Goodlife Food's products on a large scale for national distribution. Biggest inspiration Busi ascribes her achievements to hard work and to grabbing available opportunities. Busi says her grandmother has been her biggest inspiration. "Her strength, wisdom, and achievements without formal education are amazing." "People who have achieved something although they started with nothing and came from nowhere impress me. There are numerous women out of the limelight who are doing the most for people." However, Oprah Winfrey inspires her with the way she has overcome several obstacles and created a prosperous global brand. And says Busi, my children are a true litmus test, I am in awe of them! "My children do inspiring things daily." According to Busi, women need a different approach to business than men. "When I started my business as a young person I was often viewed as a child, not a capable businessperson. I have found that women need to prove themselves repeatedly and work harder to get the same results as men." Busi is content and grateful for what she has accomplished so far. She would, however, like to do and achieve more. "When you start in business it is about what you can do for yourself, but as you grow as a person, doing things to change people's lives for the better becomes important." She finds that achieving a work-life balance is difficult if you try to do everything yourself, especially as a single mother of two children. "Achieving a balance is about allocating enough time for business and my children whilst leaving some for myself." Busi would advise her younger self, the person she was at about 20, to marry after first studying and travelling, and to get more exposure to the world before starting her own business. "Such advice could have saved me lots of money and pain." Busi says she does not care about money anymore, it is more important to do something for people, especially young women needing help to get their businesses off the ground. "This has become a passion and I am in the process of starting a fund to support people to get their businesses going." Previous Next

The mission of the KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier is to support the Premier in carrying out his constitutional and statutory duties. The Department fulfils this mission primarily by mobilising, coordinating and integrating the efforts of the provincial government and administration to eradicate various forms of human deprivation; playing a leadership role in mobilising and leveraging public and private sectors' resources to realise a sustainable economic growth, with the capacity to generate decent jobs and eradicate poverty and inequality; spearheading the efforts of provincial government and all stakeholders aimed at ensuring peace, safety and security for all; professionally executing departmental mandates; coordinating and facilitating macroprovincial and other transversal issues and programmes; promoting cooperative and good governance, including fighting against fraud and corruption; providing the highest quality of policy management, planning and monitoring, and evaluation services; creating policies relating to regulations, information and legislation; and supporting the executive branch of the provincial government in initiating and executing provincial laws and policies. Subscribe Subscribe Office of The Premier Premier of KwaZulu-Natal: Nomusa Dube-Ncube Ms Nelisiwe Pretty Mkhize Personal Assistant Cell: 081 599 2327 Email: neli.mkhize@kznpremier.gov.za The mission of the KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier is to support the Premier in carrying out his constitutional and statutory duties. The Department fulfils this mission primarily by mobilising, coordinating and integrating the efforts of the provincial government and administration to eradicate various forms of human deprivation; playing a leadership role in mobilising and leveraging public and private sectors' resources to realise a sustainable economic growth, with the capacity to generate decent jobs and eradicate poverty and inequality; spearheading the efforts of provincial government and all stakeholders aimed at ensuring peace, safety and security for all; professionally executing departmental mandates; coordinating and facilitating macroprovincial and other transversal issues and programmes; promoting cooperative and good governance, including fighting against fraud and corruption; providing the highest quality of policy management, planning and monitoring, and evaluation services; creating policies relating to regulations, information and legislation; and supporting the executive branch of the provincial government in initiating and executing provincial laws and policies. Back to government departments

I have found that determination and a strong mindset can get you anywhere you want to go < Back Nozuko Basson Regional Manager for Communities and Corporate Affairs Tronox South Africa Nozuko Basson’s role at Tronox, which is based in northern KZN, entails making sure that the mining company honours its responsibility of creating value for its stakeholders, of which, communities take centre stage. The most significant event in Nozuko’s life is, she says, when she became a mother. “I had my daughter when I was fairly young and from the moment she arrived in this world, I knew that the game had changed. It’s an ambition of mine, that when my daughter is asked who your role model is, she mentions my name.” In ensuring that she is an inspiration to her daughter, Nozuko constantly evaluates how she behaves, how she practices professionalism in the workplace, and how she treats other people. Nozuko believes that she has got to where she is today through hard work, dedication, a lot of praying and the support from many people who have crossed her path. “I’m somebody who is focused on her religion. I’m a Christian and I’ve always believed that everything that I do is enabled by my faith. I started my career as a journalist, but I realised that was not the life that I wanted to live. I’m not a social and out-there type of person, so I moved into public relations. I was fortunate to work for an agency where I had an amazing mentor who helped me in building the capability to understand how media relations works.” From there, Nozuko moved onto one of South Africa’s largest medical insurance organisations, Discovery. Here, Nozuko said, she had mentors who helped guide her through her career. “I’ve been fortunate that I had other people lifting me, guiding me, and making sure that I stayed on the right track. My journey has been difficult; it’s always good to be reminded by those who are ahead of you how to remain positive and confident in what you are doing.” Having courage Nozuko says that her decision to move to KwaZulu-Natal has been an amazing journey that has required her to really stretch herself. This meant going into areas where she thought she would never be able to venture. She added, “Just having the courage to really push myself and push the boundaries for my team members so that we all work towards one single vision. This requires that we stay close to the cause and really live our own personal values, as well as the values of the organisation in which I work right now.” In commenting on the challenges that she has faced, Nozuko says that as a young female professional, the first challenge that she would like to focus on, is the “pull her down syndrome”. “When you, as a female, start rising in your career there are times when other females do everything in their power to pull you down. I have a strong view that if one of us rise, we all rise. It’s hard enough being a young female, let alone being black in the workplace; we need to hold each other up and motivate each other.” The second challenge she has faced is working in the mining industry, which is a male dominated sector. Over that, working within the community, which is also a male led environment that still subscribes to traditional practices has brought a great deal of learning, that has come with its own difficulties. Currently, the third challenge has been dealing with unconventional community issues, that pose a serious risk to Tronox’s public reputation. “This is where the company’s values, procedures and policies need to guide you to deal with the challenges in a manner that does not compromise your role or its reputation,” said Nozuko. “Lastly, I have often found myself feeling not quite welcome around the ‘table’, as if I am a token BEE candidate,” says Nozuko. “I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t wait for somebody to offer me a seat at the table. If there’s no seat for a female in the workplace or in this industry, you bring your own, and that’s something that I have really started being vocal about.” Leaving behind a legacy In the future, Nozuko wants to leave behind a legacy that says, “When Nozuko Basson was in that community or was working in that organisation, she made a positive difference.” In terms of her career, she sees herself growing from strength to strength. Right now, she is focused on her work in South Africa, but soon, she wants to share her knowledge and skills with the rest of the world. Nozuko added that she is fortunate to work for an organisation that has the platform that will allow her to do so when the time is right. On the personal side, Nozuko wants to travel the world. “I want to touch other lives in my own personal space. I want to live my best life and it’s something that I’m making a deliberate effort in doing and I know that I’m on the right track.” In advising others, she says, “It’s important not to be side-tracked by other people’s opinions. It’s important to remain true to yourself. It’s important that when you venture out, you understand that not everybody will be cheering for you, so learn to be your own cheerleader and as you’re cheering yourself, cheer those around you because they may not know the power that they have within themselves.” Nozuko believes one needs to put their heart into everything that they do. “I always say to people, if you’re not going to give it your all, rather don’t start. I believe in dazzling people. One of Tronox’s values speaks to doing the right work, the right way in every aspect of our business and that’s really what I subscribe to. I don’t take short cuts; it’s about doing something right all the time. It’s behaving in an ethical way and ensuring that everything I touch, doesn’t only represent organisational integrity, but also my own personal integrity.”

< Back Thozeka Ntlukwane-Letuka Next THOZEKA NTLUKWANE-LETUKA wears many hats and has been described as an eco-warrior, philanthropist and mother to all. During her varied career, she has worked as a domestic worker, market researcher, transcriber, translator, training provider and as a community liaison officer THOZEKA NTLUKWANE-LETUKA wears many hats and has been described as an eco-warrior, philanthropist and mother to all. During her varied career, she has worked as a domestic worker, market researcher, transcriber, translator, training provider and as a community liaison officer. Her vision is: "To empower people and protect the environment through skills transfer and waste management consulting thereby creating sustainable livelihoods." Thozeka is the founder of Big Start Training and Development, which is a 100% black owned training provider. As she has a passion for the environment, her company concentrates on providing accredited conservation and environmental awareness education and training programmes. This includes training in water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, waste collection treatment, disposal activities and material recovery. Thozeka identified a gap in many current training programmes, which do not offer tailor made training that is in line with the age, ethnic background and the indigenous language of the communities trained. This gap results in a disconnect in understanding and lowers the value received from training. She says, "I am where I am today by working hard, perseverance, and through a desire to change people's behaviour about the environment. People are losing their respect for nature; they pollute rivers and dump litter everywhere and have lost touch with where they have come from." Working tirelessly Thozeka has always been a busy woman. During her early working career, she explains that although she had a helper and a washing machine, she would wake up at 4 am to do washing and by 6 am she was at her first job in Westville. At that stage she was doing three jobs. She added that she has achieved in her career by working tirelessly because as a woman you need to strive to succeed. "You need to be tough. However, women have a strong sense of the need to accomplish their missions. They are willing to strategise and even to fail in their attempts to succeed." Thozeka has been recognised for her efforts and has been awarded a certificate of achievement by the Durban University of Technology and the Inter-national Centre of Non-violence for Durban Leader-ship programme. Fostering community participation In reflecting on her achievements, Thozeka, said that highlights of her career have included creating job opportunities in the environmental sector. She is proud of her role in fostering community parti-cipation in waste management and food production, and in encouraging communities to adopt food production techniques that focus on the agricultural sector to improve the availability and quality of food. Thozeka is the community liaison officer for the Aller River Pilot Project, which is a 'Take Back Our Rivers' initiative run by the eThekwini Conservancies Forum. River pollution is a topic that has always been close to her heart. She says, "In the olden days, rivers were dear to everyone, our parents respected the environment and rivers were used for many things, but because people's lifestyle has changed, we have neglected this important resource." "We need to start saving water because of climate change and we need to educate communities and schools to harvest water and recycle before it is too late. It is important to eliminate toxic waste that pollutes the rivers. This can be achieved by educating informal settlements about separating and selling waste and by not polluting the rivers." Plastic is a curse, but it can be re-cycled and re-used. Thozeka has encouraged women in co-operatives to up cycle plastics by making hats, mats, handbags and outfits. This initiative by the Aller River Pilot Project Eco -Champ for Up Cycling, won an award at the Ecologic Awards in Cape Town in June 2019. A wish list While Thozeka is satisfied with what she has achieved, she has a wish list. In the future she would like to see women and youth owning up cycle shops, for Big Start Training and Development to grow and do business in neighbouring countries, and to have a Further Education and Training (FET) college. Help to realise this dream has materialised as Big Start Training and Development has been selected to participate in Seda Durban's Small enterprise coaching programme (SECP) during 2019/2020. She would like to see more youth working or doing practical jobs because, as she explains, many of them leave schools or colleges with theory that does not help them to earn a living. "I am working with graduates, who are unemployed, to obtain practical experience in the workplace. I make them aware that volunteering helps to practice skills and increase knowledge because all companies ask for experience before offering employment and need references." Thozeka's passion for community upliftment is apparent. In 2008/9 she invested back into her hometown of Philippolis, which is a small town in the Free State. She built an old age home for the elderly who did not have anyone to take care of them. Value time and dream big Speaking of work-life balance, Thozeka said she did not want to get married as she felt she would not be able to do all her work and have time to spend with a husband. Now that she has done a lot for the community, Thozeka has finally settled down with her husband, a pastor, whom she describes as a perfect fit. "I have been blessed with a hard-working partner, a perfect delight." When asked what advice she would give her younger self, Thozeka said she would say to value time and dream big. "Take one step at a time and prioritise; ask for an advice and be confident about what you are doing." Previous Next

The mission of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs is to develop and implement strategies that drive economic growth; be a catalyst for economic transformation and development; provide leadership and facilitate integrated economic planning and development; and create a conducive environment for investment. The Department's strategic goals are to lead and coordinate integrated economic planning and development; facilitate sustainable and inclusive economic growth to ensure job creation; develop and transform the tourism sector to achieve destination competitiveness; and build a vibrant institution for superior performance. Subscribe Subscribe Economic Development,Tourism & Environmental Affairs MEC: Siboniso Duma Contact details Physical: 1st Floor, Heritage House, 270 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg Postal: Private Bag X9152, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 Tel: 033 264 2500 Fax: 033 310 5416 Web: www.kzndedt.gov.za The mission of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs is to develop and implement strategies that drive economic growth; be a catalyst for economic transformation and development; provide leadership and facilitate integrated economic planning and development; and create a conducive environment for investment. The Department's strategic goals are to lead and coordinate integrated economic planning and development; facilitate sustainable and inclusive economic growth to ensure job creation; develop and transform the tourism sector to achieve destination competitiveness; and build a vibrant institution for superior performance. Back to government departments