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I just embrace life and live each day and take it as an opportunity to make things right, to empower others with my own life’s journey < 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.”

Recognise your potential, empower yourself with learning and take control of your destiny, it all starts with you.Bashini Mahomed < Back Bashini Mahomed Owner Dynamic Shipping Services Bashini Mahomed is a force to be reckoned with, in the world of transcontinental logistics. As rainmaker at Dynamic Shipping Services, a logistics management company in Durban, she’s more than a businesswoman; she’s a determined leader. After two decades in corporate logistics, Bashini’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2019 at a conference in Hong Kong. An ex-colleague urged her to start her own venture and she was inspired by the challenge. Making the most of one of Hong Kong’s tourist attractions, Bashini visited a temple and threw the mystical Chinese Sticks that are said to offer guidance and spiritual clarity. “Well, I knew what I wanted to do.” Bashini identified an untapped opportunity in the timber industry in Durban and decided to set up a timber packing facility, and with her husband’s support her path was set. Resigning from her corporate job in February 2020, Bashini left the comfort and financial security of a stable career. Five days later, she received a call from a customer in need. His logistics service provider had decided to offer exclusivity to his competitor, and he needed help urgently. “Within less than 24 hours I had the task of setting up a timber packing operation, packing ten containers, and turning them into the Durban port stacks, with a 6 a.m. stack closure. It was a baptism of fire and the beginning of a whirlwind journey,” says Bashini. “In business, your reputation matters, and I delivered.” A couple of weeks later Covid struck but Bashini was able to adapt. The timber industry proved to be a fortuitous choice as it fell into the ‘essential services’ category. A resilient customer base, hard work and dedication helped her navigate the pandemic. Bashini’s journey isn’t just about the path she’s taken; it’s about the unique way she’s shaping her destination, it’s about creating something special. “I don’t like to measure success only in turnover, but I am proud of our achievements,” she said. Bashini started the business on her own, and the headcount has increased to five, but her impact extends beyond this. “I’m very proud that I’ve managed to provide employment in the last three years, particularly in view of Covid, the floods and the riots. And not just directly to my own staff,” she points out. As an extension of the DSS service offering, Bashini has indirectly created employment for 25 to 30 people from the Umlazi- Prospecton area. It’s important to Bashini that her business is contributing to the local economy, creating opportunities, and helping families thrive – a testament to her belief in business as a force for positive change. “One of our core principles,” she shares, “is to build strong relationships with our clients. We want them to see us as an extended family, not just another business entity. We’re not aiming to be the biggest corporate clearing and forwarding company; we want to be known for our family-oriented, customer-centric approach.” That said, the financial metrics are impressive. Within three years, turnover has skyrocketed to more than what was envisioned. Bashini doesn’t care about titles and has no interest in micromanaging her team but expects them to take ownership of their roles. “I’m very open and transparent with my staff,” she explains, “They know exactly where the business is going and what’s expected of them. I’m here to lead my team to success.” Bashini attributes her work ethic to her father. “He was a hard worker, and I keep telling my staff, what you put in is what you get out. I don’t have a degree, but at every company that I’ve worked, I’ve taken every opportunity for training and educated myself in a field that excites me. Hard work, determination and resilience will always churn out results.” Bashini acknowledges she’s faced challenges as a woman in the logistics industry, but she takes pride in shattering stereotypes. She’s confident in her industry knowledge, and her experience and expertise have empowered her. “There is definitely space for women in this field and we can excel and make a significant impact.” Quick to acknowledge the support of her husband, Bashini’s blessed with two daughters, an eight-year-old and a 21-year-old. “I ’d love to tell you I read, but while I read a lot of industry material, when I’m relaxing, I’m more likely to be watching Liverpool on TV or following cricket and rugby.” Bashini leaves aspiring women in business with a powerful message: “Recognise your potential, empower yourself with learning and take control of your destiny, it all starts with you. If you are not empowered, how do you expect to empower others and effect change.”

< Back Melloney Rijnvis

Embrace change as an opportunity to learn, to improve, to make a difference in others’ lives as well as in your own and to grow < Back Louisa Garland Managing Director, Imperial Armour Louisa Garland is the managing director of Imperial Armour, which was established 21 years ago. Being a woman owned company in the security industry, Louisa is an inspiration to her staff. She takes a proactive approach in being actively involved with all aspects of the company. Louisa is continually motivating her staff and is continually finding new ways and innovative ideas to keep the company moving forward and evolving to keep up in changing times. Louisa’s journey began 21 years ago when she left Belgium to come to South Africa to assist her father who was running his own company making body armour. Unfortunately, a month before she arrived here, with her two children and their father, the company went into voluntary liquidation. It as then a question of whether to return to Belgium, or to establish a new company. Life changing chapter “Coming to South Africa, was already such an exciting prospect and I knew I was ready for the challenge! So Imperial Armour was born!” explained Louisa. “It was obviously a hard road, as firstly, because I knew nothing about body armour; nor manufacturing! I was living in a new country; with no friends or family, but I felt inspired. It was also an incredible life changing chapter of my career.” Louisa comments that much of her journey has been self-driven as she believes in herself and her abilities. She was also inspired by the need to support her daughters. After one year of living in South Africa, their father went back to Belgium, so the family was alone. She explains, “I was incredibly excited to go along this journey and while it was daunting and I was afraid, I still had my two beautiful children, Lara and Emily, and I wanted to make an impression on them and for them to be proud of me.” Louisa started Imperial Armour in a garage in Kloof. In 2008 the company moved to Westmead, Pinetown, which is where all of the personal protection equipment is manufactured. Succeed through learning The biggest challenge that Louisa experienced when she first came to South Africa was to make someone believe that an English lady who has come from overseas can make and sell body armour. “For the first year and a half I did not do very well. But I succeeded through learning and growing in confidence. On this incredible journey, the more knowledge that I had, the more confident I became, which resulted in people believing in me,” says Louisa. At this precise moment in this journey, Louisa is in a fantastic position because the company is doing extremely well. Imperial Armour has doubled its turnover from last year to this year and has orders flooding in and has clients who are supporting them. “We are in a beautiful space. What is even more exciting is that I can still see even more light ahead,” explains Louisa. “I just feel so confident for our future.” The fact is that she is now employing people in different regions of South Africa. Apart from KwaZulu-Natal, this includes employees in Gauteng, Cape Town, and the Eastern Cape. An operations manager has recently been appointed and the Imperial Armour staff complement has grown from 15 to 35 in one year. As Louisa strongly believes that women should be empowered, 98% of the staff are women. Inspiring confidence One of the strengths of Imperial Armour is that Louisa, in addition to believing in herself, has also instilled the same values in the people that work for her. “I believe that training is extremely important so that we grow people. We inspire confidence in them to do better and to become stronger beings in themselves. What is also important is that when employing women of the community, you are not just employing them, you are employing their children, their families, and their friends. So, when they feel empowered themselves, they can share that message to the people that they know. And that is what I believe in.” The result of this ethos is that the company’s retention of production staff members is very high. Many of the employees have had between seven and fifteen years of service at Imperial Armour. In advising other people entering the business world, Louisa would say, firstly, believe in yourself and secondly, to have passion to carry out your goals and the motivation to never give up and keep on going. “It doesn’t matter how many times you stumble; you can get up and you can keep on going. By having that desire and that drive to succeed, you will be able to do it. Never stop learning; to me it is really important to continually grow yourself within.” Love yourself In order to have a work life balance, Louisa loves redesigning both her home, with new colours and using different furniture, as well as her garden. One of her passions is to buy a property and completely renovate it to make it look beautiful. “I love spending time with my daughters, and I now have a grandchild who I am spoiling rotten. I love to scuba dive. I love reading and learning new things. I love travelling and I am a real adventurer when it comes to exploring new places,” she added. In conclusion, says Louisa, “If you at times find it difficult to get back on your feet, remember to love yourself. Remember to do those affirmations in front of the mirror and to say, ‘I - love – you’. How you love yourself is how you teach others how to love you.”

< Back Zululand Chamber of Commerce & Industry 15 minutes Assesment About While the Zululand Chamber of Commerce & Industry is autonomous to the Zululand Chamber of Business Foundation, the Foundation community park continues to provide a home for its associated organisations. The Zululand Chamber of Commerce & Industry continues to enjoy a close relationship with the Foundation while Business Against Crime no longer reports to the Foundation. The Zululand Chamber of Commerce & Industry continues to grow with increased membership and during 2009 the Chamber Executive Committee had 19 sub committees reporting to it.At the Executive Committee meeting held on the 8th August 2007 under the chairmanship of Mr Garth McCartney, the Chamber took the decision to become affiliated with SACCI (South African Chamber of Commerce & Industry, formally known as SACOB). Previous Next

 "My own experience as a competitor has always given me the drive and insight to create events from an athlete's perspective. It guides my decisions on the right events to stage, and the various avenues to pursue in my business." Subscribe Home KZN Leaders Up Up Damian Bradley "My own experience as a competitor has always given me the drive and insight to create events from an athlete's perspective. It guides my decisions on the right events to stage, and the various avenues to pursue in my business." Never one to settle in his comfort zone DAMIAN BRADLEY has always been an entrepreneur. As a schoolboy at boarding school, he earned money cutting hair and running an after-hours tuck shop, so it was no surprise that he opted to start his own business at only 26 years of age. Never one to settle in his comfort zone, after school, Bradley opted to study business management at what is now the Durban University of Technology. Then, in 1995, when South Africa was riding the crest of the Rugby World Cup wave, he was inspired to do a course in sports management for business. After this, he went on to study marketing. After finishing his studies in Cape Town, Bradley decided it was time to travel. When he needed to earn a living in the United Kingdom, he found a position at a law firm. Not exactly what he'd planned as a career move, but he stayed there for two years before returning to Durban to take up a corporate regional marketing position. This rich and varied experience has stood him in good stead in running a sports management company. And in 2004, when he found himself retrenched after a corporate restructure, Bradley decided it was time to start B-Active Sports, with a plan for a single sporting event as his starting point. Before long, Bradley had grown his portfolio to running 20 small events a year, but he realised that it made better business sense to focus on the more successful events, with potential to grow. Building on these allowed him to build on economies of scale, growing his priority events in terms of participants, profitability and reputation. A pivotal point in the growth of B-Active Sports was in 2011, when the company secured its first major corporate sponsorship. This not only provided a new revenue stream, but also opened the door for future growth. But while this marks a career highlight, Bradley gets a great sense of accomplishment from watching competitors in his events grow in skill and competitiveness over time, with several having started as novices and growing into international, professional athletes. As Bradley points out, he and his team have managed to combine their work with their passion, so it's easy to love their jobs and deliver with commitment and dedication. Bradley's focus is on his clients, the athletes they serve, and his team. Damian's leadership style is collaborative. Teamwork is important to him and while recognising his role in creating the company vision and the energy to make it happen, he believes in leading from beside his colleagues. "B-Active Sports is a small company. My goal is to grow the team in terms of confidence and competence. I ensure my staff feel secure in their jobs, but at the same time I keep pushing them to develop themselves. I believe this gives them a powerful sense of purpose and job satisfaction. And that's good for them - and for the business." "Right now, I see potential in events outside of our traditional area of strength, and we'll be looking to expand into new areas." Unsurprisingly, Bradley is a keen sportsman. Before starting B-Active sports, he had been a committed athlete for eight years, competing in triathlon events at national level. This formed his approach to his events. "My own experience as a competitor has always given me the drive and insight to create events from an athlete's perspective. It guides my decisions on the right events to stage, and the various avenues to pursue in my business." While no longer competing at national level, he is still very active with a great love of surfing, mountain biking and road and trail running. Bradley is also a dedicated father of two (his seven year-old daughter and five year-old son), and rates getting married ten years ago as one of the best decisions he's ever made.

The mission of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development is to promote developmental social welfare services and community development to the people of KZN in partnership with stakeholders. Based on its mandate, the Department develops and implements programmes for the eradication of poverty, social protection and social development amongst the poorest of the poor, and the most vulnerable and marginalised. It effectively implements this through its partnerships with its primary customers/clients and all those sharing its vision. The Department's core functions are social welfare services, which focuses on childhood development, child care and protection services, special needs persons, restorative services such as social crime prevention and support, and HIV/AIDS care and support; and development and research, which focuses on youth development, sustainable livelihood, institutional capacity building and support, research and demography, and population capacity development and advocacy. Subscribe Subscribe Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza Physical: 208 Hassen Haffejee, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 Postal: Private Bag X9144, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 Tel: 033 264 5402 Fax: 033 341 9610 Web: www.kzndsd.gov.za The mission of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development is to promote developmental social welfare services and community development to the people of KZN in partnership with stakeholders. Based on its mandate, the Department develops and implements programmes for the eradication of poverty, social protection and social development amongst the poorest of the poor, and the most vulnerable and marginalised. It effectively implements this through its partnerships with its primary customers/clients and all those sharing its vision. The Department's core functions are social welfare services, which focuses on childhood development, child care and protection services, special needs persons, restorative services such as social crime prevention and support, and HIV/AIDS care and support; and development and research, which focuses on youth development, sustainable livelihood, institutional capacity building and support, research and demography, and population capacity development and advocacy. Back to government departments

Mayor: CLLR M Ngubane KZN Top Business Subscribe Amajuba District Municipality Amajuba District Municipality is situated in the north western corner of KwaZulu-Natal. The district comprises the local municipalities of Dannhauser, Newcastle, and eMadlangeni A Pioneering District Amajuba District Municipality is situated in the north western corner of KwaZulu-Natal. The district comprises the local municipalities of Dannhauser, Newcastle, and eMadlangeni. The N11 highway which runs in a north-south direction links KwaZulu-Natal with Mpumalanga Province. This road serves as the primary corridor and main access route to the district. The R34 also bisects the district in an east-west direction and provides a linkage from the port city of Richards Bay to the interior. Amajuba is positioned within a region that is rich in terms of natural resources including Ncandu and Chelmsford Reserves at the foothills of the Drakensberg. The district is predominantly rural and dominated by extensive commercial farmlands mainly in the form of livestock (cattle) farming. Secondary Node Newcastle Local Municipality is an urban centre with good existing economic development and growth potential, and which services the regional economy. Newcastle town is the main urban centre and economic hub; towns such as Dannhauser and Utrecht serve as secondary service centres. The economy of the area is heavily reliant upon the manufacturing sector. Large operations include heavy engineering, a granite tile factory, steel reinforcement, and a slagment cement plant. Newcastle shows a competitive edge for the manufacturing of aluminiumbased products; leather goods; textiles and textile products; clothing; automotive components; pharmaceuticals; and metal products and machinery. Rural Service Centre Dannhauser Local Municipality is the smallest municipality within the district. Dannhauser functions as a small rural service centre (providing commercial service facilities and agricultural industries and services) and is not a large employment generator. Residents of the municipal area rely on the larger urban centres of Dundee and Newcastle for employment opportunities, higher order goods and services. Unique Location eMadlangeni Local Municipality consists of a vast rural area when compared to other municipalities in the district. The municipality has a low percentage of economic activity. The town of Utrecht, nestling in the foothills of Balele Mountain is unique in that it lies within the confines of the Balele Community Game Park and the Utrecht Community Game Farm. Therefore, it is not unusual to find animals frequenting the outskirts of the town, parks and gardens. This initiative by the local town council in conjunction with Balele Conservancy and motivated by individual residents in the district, has brought about a shift in the town’s focus from industry to tourism. eMadlangeni is the most important wool-producing area in KwaZulu-Natal. Economic Development The Amajuba District Municipality has identified the tourism resources as one of the key potentials for economic development in the district, including: • Cultural and historical • Eco-tourism: birding and hiking • Outdoor adventures • Festivals and sporting competitions Amajuba District Municipality is currently rolling out an investment drive with the view to develop and grow its local economy. Underpinning the programme is the municipality’s strategy of ensuring that the economy creates decent jobs for its people. CONTACT DETAILS Postal: Private Bag X6615, Newcastle, 2940 Physical: B9356 Amajuba Building, Madadeni Tel +27 (0) 34 329 7200 E-mail: info@amajuba.gov.za Website: www.amajuba.gov.za Back