Page 18 - CSERI Annual Review eBook

DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
DUT CSERI SUCCESS STORIES
MEET AMADUMBE CHIPS MAKER MS. SIBONGILE MTSABE
From left: CSERI Marketing officer Ms. Snelisiwe Hlongwane, founder of Sibocali Traders Ms. Sibongile Mtsabe and DUT DVC-RIE Professor Sibusiso Moyo
I am Sibongile Mtsabe from Sibocali Traders. We process indigenous roots like cassava, sweet potato, amadumbe/ cocoyam also pearl millet, and cauliflower to make crispy chips, gluten free and low GI flour, and fermented instant porridge. Our mission is to increase income for youth and women in rural areas and township communities in South Africa by creating a market and to develop sustainable farmers and enable them to grow by helping them to acquire commercial farming skills and get the relevant support (Department of Agriculture) for rural and township communities. We work with our local farmers to change our indigenous roots into yummy crisps, flavored with our nutritious indigenous spices. Our manufacturing practices and projects are in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 & 8, and we train our suppliers to make sure that they will have sustainable businesses. Within a period of three years we will be scaling up into different communities in KZN. Through the DUT CSERI incubation programme we have gained training, exposure to international trading and exporting.
During the incubation programme I won the female business of the year award at the Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, had an opportunity to exhibit in Zanzibar during the women in business conference,
“We work with our local farmers to change our indigenous roots into yummy crisps, flavored with our nutritious indigenous spices.”
learnt advanced systems, and the growth wheel which is now a tool we use daily in our company and we have built a strong network. We started implementing processes and revisiting strategies that helped us to do better. Sibocali now has two permanent employees and five interns that work within our company. My plan is to grow and reach more customers national and globally. In closing I would like to advise all small business owners to never give up, build networks and learn to collaborate.
Business Owner: Sibongile Mtsabe Tel: 084 716 2736
Email: sibocali@gmail.com
16 CENTRE FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENUESHIP RAPID INCUBATOR