Raizcorp ARIZE

Interview: Zanele Matome from Basadi Development Agency

Ntombizanele Matome is a Raizcorp Enterprise Development beneficiary. She has completed the Pre-Prosperator programme and has just begun her first year on the Comprehensive Enterprise Development Programme. She is on the programme thanks to the wonderful support of Shaft Sinkers, who have chosen Raizcorp as a provider for their Enterprise Development needs. Zanele spoke to us about her journey as the only black, female-owned Shot Crete Company in South Africa.

What service is it exactly that your company is going to be offering?

I am going to be offering underground safety applications to the mines. I will be doing this in the form of Wet Crete and Thin Skin Liner applications. This is the process of spraying concrete with admixtures in order to stabilise the rocks. These applications help to preserve the lives of miners underground.

What made you decide that this was what you wanted to do?

I grew up in the mining community in Rustenburg and it has always been my passion to eventually work in the industry. With mining being a capital intensive industry, I decided that I should focus on the secondary support services because of its low barriers to entry. I also realised that I could form a niche market since there are no female-owned companies in the country who provide this service.

How did you end up at Raizcorp?

I looked at various mine contracting companies, specifically those who were market leaders. Shaft Sinkers came up as a worldwide leader. My vision was to be a sub-contractor to them so that I could learn from the best. I then secured an appointment with Shaft Sinkers to present my company and my business idea and to ask for sub-contracting opportunites in their underground operations. In the meeting I told them that I was new in the industry and that I was not quite sure where to start or how to begin with my vision. After many meetings, they decided that they wanted to take me on board and develop my company so that I could be better equipped to become a service provider to them. They then decided to sponsor me on the Raizcorp Enterprise Development programme. Here I would learn all the aspects of running a profitable and sustainable enterprise. I started on the programme in October 2009 and have learnt a great deal about business process and compliance. The skills which I am learning from Raizcorp will equip me to write a Business Plan (or ‘business Think as Raizcorp calls it), a marketing plan and to understand the financial aspects of running a company. The Raizcorp programme also gives me the confidence I need to venture out on my own and continue with my vision. Raizcorp has helped me to “raiz” my bar. I have just completed the Pre-Propserator programme, which I did as I am a start up business as opposed to an existing business. Now that I have graduated, I will move on to the full 1^st year of the CED programme thanks to the continued support and sponsorship of Shaft Sinkers.

What are you finding most difficult about your chosen industry?

The industry is currently male-dominated, so potential clients find it difficult to trust a women -owned company with a contract. I find that people initially don’t take me seriously, however, once I start talking and they realise that I do know what I am talking about, their perceptions do start to change.

Besides the sponsorship on the Raizcorp Enterprise Development Programme, how else has Shaft Sinkers been of assistance?

They have assisted by linking me up with industry experts in order to gain more info on the industry and also by inviting me to join them in one of their underground operations where I was able to witness the entire production process from start to finish. They are also playing an active mentorship role and are genuinely interested in my progress. I value the fact that they are not just a money sponsor but an active sponsor. It helps when the companies involved in ED do more than just pay lip service to BEE. And the great thing about Shaft Sinkers is that the involvement and active support actually comes from Senior Management.

What has been the most exciting aspect of starting up this business and what prospects do you have so far in terms of business / projects?

The most exciting part was when I was doing research, visiting equipment suppliers, going onto sight to see the actual production process and also meeting with competitors. It was exciting because it gave me a broader overview of the industry and it also confirmed for me that I am in the right place. I have been privileged to be able to gain knowledge from industry experts. This is the kind of knowledge that you can’t find on Google. Shaft Sinkers has said that, should the opportunity present itself, they would give me the opportunity to prove myself with 1 sub-contracting project. I am also currently looking at various joint venture opportunities with established companies.

As a woman in a male dominated industry, and specifically as a start-up business, do you think that you will be able to manage teams underground? Also, how hands-on would you try and be?

My strategy now is to take my team on training and to also be in this training with them in order to gain knowledge and know-how with regards to the technical side of the business. On my first project I will ensure that I am underground at least 3 times week and that I am working with them doing everything, from the general worker duties up to the supervisor duties. The experience which I will be gaining from this will be to my advantage because I will be better equipped to manage people if I have the skill and if I know what I am talking about. I believe my team will accept me as a boss if I have this know-how.

Final thoughts or comments with regards to your journey so far

My journey has been difficult and exciting at the same time. The hard part was the lack of funds and transport which I needed in order to do all the running around. I don’t have a car at the moment and have had to rely on taxis to go to meetings. I needed a great deal of petty cash for transport. I used to bake biscuits early in the morning and went to sell them at schools in the morning for money for the transport and airtime. The road is now starting to clear and there is light at the end of the tunnel. With the success, that I am sure is heading my way, I would like to give back to my community and inspire other would-be entrepreneurs. I want people to know that if you want something you need to work hard at it, pray a lot and stay humble.

I want to start a social responsibility initiative based around the education of the African child. It will start small and as my business grows so will I be able to do more for this initiative. It is all about providing schools in different areas with what they need in order to learn.