Page 13 - KZN Business Sense-Vol6 No5

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Tel: +27 (0)31 220 2155
E: pdlamini@emakheni.co.za
W: www.emakheni.co.za
TRANSFORMING LIVES WHILE CLEANING EXCELLENTLY!

ortio Dlamini, the founder had a lot of fears – stepping out of
of Emakheni Cleaning & my comfort zone to go into a risky
PIndustrial Solutions, has a venture, including leaving a secure
passion for making a difference in job. Another fear was providing
people’s lives. services to the manufacturing
After graduating with a BTech sector, a male dominated field,
in Chemical Engineering, Portio which was one of the biggest
worked in the manufacturing challenges that I had to overcome
industry for approximately ten as a businessperson.”
years. She was a process technician Portio reflected that her
at Sasol and Sappi and a production journey was enabled through the
unit manager at Unilever. support of mentors, coaches and
Emakheni Cleaning & Industrial organisations. “Without support,
Solutions came about after I would not have made it in Portio Dlamini Emakheni team
Portio was exposed to cleaning business because it has been a very have started to study part time.
contractors in the companies in intense journey. My life coach and Emakheni is now seven years In the industrial sector, Portio’s This has a major impact on the
which she was employed. “Often mentor, Dr Basil Tryon, helped old – having started in 2013. “The vision is to incorporate services way that we service our clients.
cleaners I encounter have poor me to understand who I am, and first three years were very trying such as high-pressure cleaning We make sure that our clients’
morale. While I was working my potential, as well helped me to as the first contracts were for and waste management. The environments are clean and safe –
as a unit manager, I began to deal with the fears that I had.” cleaning houses and we had some Covid pandemic has required continually,” concluded Portio. 
start empowering them through Portio participated in the office contracts. Once we entered higher levels of cleaning, which
speaking about their future and Raizcorp Entrepreneurship the manufacturing industry, we has provided Emakheni an
their potential,” Portio explains. programme sponsored by Engen, started to make progress, as we opportunity for growth in respect
understood their language and
of disinfection and sanitisation.
“I started to feel dissatisfied with and the Durban Chamber of the pain that they had, so doors
my career and to have a desire Commerce and Industry ESD started opening up.” “We take care of our clients’
to have a business that would programme sponsored by facilities so that they can focus
empower people beyond the Transnet. Currently, Portio is part Portio’s background in chemical on their core business. In the past
cleaning industry.” of the Sekela Entrepreneurship process engineering ensures that four years we have done business
programme sponsored by SA
mainly with the industrial sector
she understands what is required
Establishing her own business Home Loans. from a compliance point of view for companies such as Unilever,
was not easy and Portio had to face from industrial clients, which Transnet, Cataler, Sentech. This SCAN
several challenges as well as fears. “These have helped me a lot in QR CODE
terms of personal development has strengthened the business’s year we have started to focus on
“One of the major challenges that and in understanding the position. In addition, Emakheni office cleaning for the commercial TO SEE
I faced was a lack of understanding fundamentals of business. All this has been awarded ISO 9001 sector.” Clients to whom this VIDEO
and skills in how to run a business. has had a significant impact on certification. service is provided include SA
I was from an environment where I ensuring that I build a sustainable The company’s services include Home Loans and Rawson.
was an employee and technical.” business. I am grateful for that cleaning, hygiene, gardening “Our cleaners are well trained (Open the camera on your phone and
hover steadily for 2-3 seconds over the
“The second challenge was that I support.” contacts and special projects. and highly empowered, and some QR Code to see the video.)

SHOULD YOU FLOSS YOUR TEETH?

r Fareed Amod of Crown acids that attack tooth enamel If the plaque on your teeth and For some people flossing your surprise as many people have
Dental Studio says, “Many causing cavities and can cause gums is not removed, the mineral teeth and gums may be ineffective been conditioned to rinse out
Dpatients ask me why the early stage of gum disease - in saliva hardens it to form tartar if you have: their mouth after brushing.
they need to floss in addition to gingivitis. Plaque can contribute or calculus within 24 to 36 hours. ■ Gaps between your teeth that However, rinsing your mouth
brushing their teeth. The reason is to bad breath and make your teeth Tartar acts as a home to many are too large for floss to clean washes away fluoride, which is
simple. It’s that cavities and gum look dingy and yellow. different types of bacteria that can ■ Crowns, bridges, and implants added to many dental products to
disease are usually caused by the Dental plaque begins forming on advance gum disease. ■ Dentures that replace some help strengthen teeth. As a result,
plaque, which cannot be removed and between your teeth, and along Once formed, tartar cannot be missing teeth the toothpaste isn’t as effective at
by brushing alone.” the gum line, 4-12 hours after removed by brushing or flossing ■ Orthodontic appliances such preventing tooth decay.”
Saliva, food and fluids combine brushing. Therefore, it is important alone. It needs to be removed by as braces “Flossing can take some getting
to form dental plaque, which is the to brush thoroughly at least twice the dentist or dental hygienist use to, but the more often you
sticky, colourless or pale-yellow a day. who use special tools. Bleeding “In these types of conditions, we floss, the faster and better you’ll
film that collects on your teeth and However, brushing alone does not gums often signal the presence of have to think about interdental become. In addition, don’t
gums. It’s the fuzzy coating that effectively clean between your teeth uncleaned plaque and/or tartar cleaning, or using other tools to forget to schedule routine dental
you often feel when you wake up in as toothbrush bristles can’t reach on teeth and gums. You may even clean between your teeth such as cleanings at least twice a year,”
the morning. deep between teeth to remove notice bleeding after you brush special tree-shaped brushes or concluded Dr Amod. 
sticks,” explains Dr Amod.
Plaque consists of living microbes plaque and food particles. Flossing your teeth or eat certain foods.
surrounded by a gluey layer that helps to ensure good dental hygiene “Bleeding gums indicate you’re Hints for good flossing Crown Dental Studio is one of the few
truly 24-hour dental practises in Durban
helps the microbes attach to because this process removes at risk of developing advanced ■ Floss at least once a day as this is not limited to emergency
surfaces in your mouth and which plaque and food from between gum issues, called periodontal dentistry treatment.
can grow into thriving colonies. your teeth which helps to keep your disease. This condition sees the ■ To properly floss, break off T: +27 81 207 8621
The bacteria in plaque produce mouth as clean as possible. foundations that hold your teeth about 30 to 45 cm inches of floss E: info@dramod.co.za
and wrap both ends around
in your jawbone deteriorate, your fingers. Gently move the W: www.dramod.co.za
eventually causing your teeth floss up and down the sides
to loosen and fall out,” says of each tooth to remove plaque,
Dr Amod. bacteria, and food debris.
“If you floss your teeth regularly, ■ Floss before brushing with a
and then brush afterwards, plaque soft-bristled brush. The problem
usually will not harden on your with flossing after brushing is
teeth. So, the act of flossing can that any food, plaque, and
make sure that you keep your bacteria released by flossing SCAN
smile.” remains in your mouth until QR CODE
the next time you brush. TO SEE
Flossing (effectively) is great if: ■ After flossing and brushing,
■ You still have most of your teeth spit out any remaining VIDEO
■ Your teeth are close together toothpaste in your mouth, but
■ Your gums haven’t receded to you shouldn’t rinse your mouth. (Open the camera on your phone and
leave gaps between your teeth. hover steadily for 2-3 seconds over the
Dr Fareed Amod, Crown Dental Studio “This advice probably as a QR Code to see the video.)

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