Page 61 - KZN Top Business Women - eBook 2023

I have never given up on my dreams

and even if you fail – you shouldn’t give up

The question asking how she could improve her More job opportunities
Founder Getnon Perfect Stitch and Trim
company caught my attention,” explained Getrude.
“I said that I wanted to open my own small factory to Although Getrude plans to continue to work for Sarah,
etrude Nonhlanhla Ndlovu is the founder of a she is always looking for possibilities to open more
company called Getnon Perfect Stitch and Trim. manufacture bags and supply them back to Wonderbag. businesses, to employ more staff and to give more job
G The name, she says means, “I get what I want, Sarah accepted that request, without hesitating, because opportunities through creating employment.
and no-one can stop me.” This name well represents she trusted me and because she had a lot of orders for
Getrude’s dynamic approach to all her endeavours. the bags.” She explained that she would like to open a bakery in
the rural area where she was born as bread is very
Her husband died when their children were young, so In January 2020 Getrude found a site for her factory, and scarce there.
she has been a single mother to her five children for Sarah contributed two industrial machines. Getrude hired
most of their lives, and now has 15 grandchildren. four machinists and two general workers to clean the bags. Getrude says that she is very driven and a very strong
Initially, Getrude appointed a production manager while person who always gives of her best. She added, “I have
Getrude explained that her sewing career started from an she continued with her job at the Wonderbag factory. never given up on my dreams and even if you fail – you
early age. She was 10 years old when her mother taught However, she said this manager failed in his role and she shouldn’t give up.”
her to sew on a manual sewing machine and she was was forced to leave Wonderbag to manage her business.
given sewing tasks to complete. Getrude commented that In advising young people Getrude would say that they
as these tasks stopped her from playing, she used to feel Getrude added that Sarah was very supportive of her should not stay in one place and hold only one job.
resentful. Now, she has realised that her mother assisted endeavour. “Sarah is a wonderful person who has helped “They must keep on thinking what they going to do to
in developing a talent in her, which has served her well. make me, she is my role model. Sarah is very supportive move on with their lives, especially while they are still
because when I need help, she’s a shoulder to cry on.” young. I advise them to work with me, but they must
This talent is especially relevant as Getrude never attended do something else to earn some money, and not to
school. During the early years of her marriage, Getrude Her factory, says Getrude, now supplies 1500 bags per rely only on what I’m paying them.”
lived in Hammarsdale and got a job as a machinist in the week, 6 000 per month, and she has 28 staff members.
textile industry manufacturing car airbags. Open heart
Many challenges
Getrude worked there for six years and became a team Getrude is very community minded and explains
leader. When she was retrenched, due to the company’s Getrude has experienced many challenges in establishing that she is open hearted with a strong desire to uplift
closure, she bought two industrial machines and her business. Covid was an initial problem and the business the people around her especially those who are less
worked at home doing alterations and making church had to close. Loadshedding has also had an impact as fortunate. She says, “I want to collect all the young
uniforms. In 2018 she decided to return to factory work during these times, the machinists cannot operate. When people to give them jobs. I like to help the community.
because business was very slow. they cannot work then there no pay. If someone comes and cries Gogo, I’m hungry, I need

Another problem that Getrude has experienced is some money, then my heart is very open, and my hands
A pivotal role
dealing with staff from different backgrounds. She says are open.”
Getrude’s successful application for a job as a qualified that her staff do not always have the same insights, so In addition, Getrude is an active participant in her church
machinist resulted in her obtaining a position as a she needs to communicate with them and encourage and is contributing to the costs of a new building. She
causal worker at the Wonderbag™ factory in Tongaat. them to work as a team. “I give them the advice that added that she trusts God a lot and each day, at the
The Wonderbag is an award winning non-electric slow there must be no fighting in the socialising outside of factory before work, they pray to God to be with them,
cooker that uses heat retention technology to continue the workplace to avoid conflict.” to guide and protect them.
cooking food once removed from the heat source.
In addition, says Getrude, she leads by example. “I’m In conclusion, Getrude commented that she is very
Importantly, the Wonderbag business is owned by Sarah still a machinist. If there’s someone who is absent, I sit happy and excited to be part of the KZN Top Business
Collins, who has played a pivotal role in Getrude’s journey. down and do my job to reach the target. I’m not a boss Women initiative especially as it is reinforcing herself
“In 2019, Sarah came to the factory with questionnaires to them, I’m their friend. I’m their mother. They call me as a role model in her community and that her story
asking the staff how the company could be improved. Granny, Gogo. I’m that person they can go to for help.” will be shared to motivate other people to succeed.

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