Page 12 - NHBRC

The National Home Builders’ Registration Council (NHBRC) is investing in emerging female
CITY PRESS, 1 MARCH, 2015
entrepreneurs in the construction industry by enabling 83 of them to attend a business
development programme at the Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg

SHOW ME THE
money

index

Finding funding for a hotshot business idea often trips up a prospective

entrepreneur at the starting line. There are, however, several ways of

accessing start-up capital if you look hard enough. These include

crowdfunding, grants, entering competitions and belonging to a stokvel,

NHBRC delegates told Sue Grant-Marshall

How they found funding
Maria Sono-Nkoana, of Thabi-Mari
Property and Associated Services in
Gauteng, Limpopo and North West, said:
“I had the real deal because I started
my business in 2008 and Impopome, a
women’s empowerment programme,
opportunity
helped me get started.
“The Gauteng department of roads
and transport gave us provincial roads
on which to work.
“We were also given cars and trucks.
In fact, they supplied everything and
paid us at the end of every month. The
programme lasted a year, during which
we saved really hard so that we could
continue with our businesses when it
ended.”
Noorie Joseph, of Phumelelo
Investments, which is based in Durban
but has a national footprint, said: “Maria
experienced real empowerment. It’s
such a pity that initiatives like
Impopome do not exist today.
“We are lucky to have this National
Home Builders’ Registration Council
programme.”
Ndidzulafhi Maggie Netshilindi, of
Ndidzulafhi Projects in Midrand, said: “I
was fortunate that I didn’t need funding SHARING EXPERIENCES This group of women told the NHBRC and City Press how they found the money they needed to get started
because the Ekurhuleni metro (it was
Kyalami metro back in 2001) ran a Investments in KwaZulu-Natal and loan from a bank. They’re not Loans from family and
training programme for which I applied. Gauteng, said: “I volunteered at Habitat heeding government’s call to empower friends
We had mentors and the municipality for Humanity in 2002. It’s an NGO that women.” Sono-Nkoana: “I borrowed money
paid for us. builds safe, affordable homes in 18 Joseph: “Banks have to come to the from my daughter and we have a
“I opened offices in Ivory Park and countries and it inspired me to go into party. They should look at your whole written agreement about her terms and
was soon making enough money to construction. business history before turning you conditions. We trust each other.”
continue in my civil, electrical and “I managed to buy building material down. Mtshali: “I’m guilty of borrowing
building business.” and got going in that way.” “Maybe you’ve just had one bad year.” money from my husband and not
Nolusindiso Mbande, of DNA Vanessa Munesamy, of Vacuflo in repaying it.” The group laughed. “He is
Structures in Pietermaritzburg, said: KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, explained: “I Do stokvels play a role in incredibly supportive of my business.”
“The Vukuzakhe Emerging Contractors had no funding at all in 2001, but my funding? Mbande: “I borrowed a reasonable
Association has a history of more than brother gave me a desludging tanker to Mtshali: “I had a really good sum of money from my mother and she
12 years’ service to the construction clean septic tanks. And my father gave experience because, when my turn came didn’t ask to be repaid. But I pay her
industry, and it gave us money to buy me his pension to pay for diesel. to be paid out, I got R120 000 in cash. back in so many other ways.”
tools and establish our site. “But then, when a client who owed But I was very careful about security Netshilindi: “I have two partners in
“We were also given a mentor and, as me R40 000 defaulted, I was so poor I when it came to transporting the money my company. When we borrow from
business began to grow, I started to couldn’t even afford a bottle of to the bank.” each other we sign a legal document
tender at other government water. Mbande: “I’m part of a stokvel and then repay the loan with interest.”
departments. “That was my turning point. I that started last year. We’ve Moabelo: “I once borrowed money
decided I would never be as BE SURE decided that nobody will from my sister and brother-in-law.
You can’t bank on it ... poor again. draw their cash. Nothing was written down and we had
“I approached my bank for a “When septic tanks went Is your builder registered “We are banking it and no legal documents. They trusted me.”
R100 000 overdraft in 2006 and got it.” out of fashion I decided to with the NHBRC? Check at then, as a stokvel, we
Joseph: “Well, you were lucky. My concentrate on portable www.nhbrc.org.za/builder-search intend to use it to invest in The role of big business
bank turned me down for a R30 000 toilets to help get me into property.” Mawela: “We women will remain on
overdraft on my business account. They the construction industry. or call 0800 200 824. For Joseph: “I had an the periphery of big-time construction if
wouldn’t even loan me R10 000.” Now, 13 years later I have six other questions, SMS 34263 unfortunate experience, large companies don’t give us a break.
Rose Moabelo, of Nare Molebowe trucks.” with keyword NHBRC. because when my turn came My hope is they will help empower
General Enterprises in Limpopo and Marjorie Mawela, of Themolo SMSes cost R1.50 to be paid out, the woman women until we’re running sustainable
Gauteng, added: “I got my kick-start Group in Pretoria, said: “I got a responsible for administering the businesses.”
from a two-year project, supplying food lift-off due to MTN’S Enterprise stokvel suddenly died. Joseph: “Generally speaking, big
to Limpopo primary schools. I used the Development Foundation. It helped “I am still waiting for my money.” business has failed to support small and
bonus I got to open my company.” me with the funds I needed to Mawela sympathised, saying: “That medium-sized entities. So we need to
Faith Mabuza, of FBO Trading and renovate their is just so bad. But pioneer this ourselves by helping our
Projects in Pretoria, said: “Sometimes shops. I used my we need to own workers to start a business.
it’s good for someone in the business to savings from that A project in partnership with the emphasise that “I suggested just this to a bricklayer of
have a salary. I’m a registered nurse and business to buy there are many mine. He now does work for me on a
I was working when my husband started equipment so that I NHBRC excellently contract basis. I did the same with a
building. could get into administered and painter. Government needs to know that
“Now we run the business together.” construction. extremely well-run if it empowers us then we, in turn, will
Siza Mtshali, of Misizwe Trading and “You can’t get a stokvels out there.” empower others.”