Page 77 - KZN Top Business Woman 2025 - eBook

Nontetho Smith

Founder and Managing Director of learnt that maize meal is a staple product,” she explains. Mentorship has played a crucial role in her entrepreneurial
Uthingo Mills “Even during Covid, when everything shut down, food development. At a milling conference in Johannesburg,
remained a necessity.” she met a seasoned expert who became a long-term
mentor. “Frans Duur has been my mentor for more than
ontetho Smith was born in Nquthu, a rural For Nontetho, the true value of her company lies in the ten years now and has never failed to take my call.” His
N town in northern KwaZulu-Natal. She later people who make it thrive. “I pay a lot of attention to the guidance helped her understand production processes,

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

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