Page 19 - Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women 2021

If you have the passion and the focus, and if you have the dream;

you can take yourself to a better level and independence.

Managing Director Biza iAfrica Consultants ensures that our customers are happy, which is how we that come your way as there is often the opinion that
have built our recognition.” you got the job because you’re a black person. Thobeka
commented, “No-one realises the hard work that we have
hobeka Dlongolo joined Biza iAfrica
Over the years, Biza iAfrica has developed the capacity
Consultants as a partner in 2007, with the put in to this business. We have never focused our energy
to undertake projects up to R20 million of value. The
goal to drive the growth of the business on being black; we’ve focused on working hard, improving
company finances all its projects and, consequently, has
Tand put it where it is today. The company our skills, and delivering a good service to our clients.
been able to succeed because they have the trust of their
We’ve managed to overcome many struggles and we’ve
was established in 2001 by her mother, Frances
clients that they will deliver the services required. had much recognition within the industry. I believe that
Dlongolo, who saw opportunities in the landscaping
anyone who has the drive to succeed, can succeed.”
and horticulture business. Biza iAfrica is proud of its achievements and especially of
the training provided. Thobeka explains, “We have tried Thobeka says that it is important to ensure that each client
“We have been in the business of horticulture and
to ensure that wherever we work, we empower youth and is happy, as you’re likely to get good recommendations
landscaping for the past 14 years and have grown
women. We educate and basically leave skills behind, for future jobs. “We focus on what the customer requires,
from strength to strength,” said Thobeka. “We started
before we move onto the next project. We’ve organised and I think that has been our greatest success and is what
landscaping in the rural Eastern Cape, and are now based
courses that are accredited and many of our learners have each individual should strive for.” They have ensured that
in Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal. Our goal is to reach as
been able to learn horticulture as well as set up their each job that they have started has been successfully
many provinces as possible within South Africa and we
own businesses. What we’ve also done, is that we have completed and there’s never been a period where their
would like to expand outside the country in the future.”
employed some of the youth within our company, and contracts have been cancelled.
The company works with landscape architects to install they’re grown in our business. I greatly believe that we
Thobeka’s future goals are to provide a full facility
and maintain plants in a variety of locations such as have impacted positively on the various communities in
management company for various clients where Biza
schools, community parks and recreational spaces. which we have worked to ensure that there is continuity
iAfrica will be able to take care of both the outdoor and
In 2010, Biza iAfrica Consultants was provided the in the work that we do.”
indoor areas. The company would also like to establish a
opportunity of being part of the company that supplied
Create your own opportunities commercial nursery.
plants to King Shaka International Airport. “We had
to source over 900 000 plants that were installed at Thobeka commented that the person who has most Focus on your skills
King Shaka, as well as at Dube TradePort,” explained inspired her along her journey has been her mother. She
The advice that Thobeka would give to others is firstly,
Thobeka. Recently, the company was awarded a contract says, “I’ve watched my mother work very hard, and I think
“Focus on your skills, understand your business, your
to maintain the site for three years. her energy and drive has given me the strength to become
market, and the needs of your customers. Don’t be scared
who I am today.” However, Thobeka added that you create
Delivering better service if you get put down, don’t give up, life is all about not
your own opportunities in life. “If you have the passion
listening to the negative talk. Focus on what you want to
In commenting on their growth, Thobeka says that over and the focus, and if you have the dream; you can take achieve; focus on really building your business.”
the years, they’ve been able to build their name by always yourself to a better level and independence.”
ensuring that their company was not competitive just Secondly, she says once you make money, re-invest back
In the future, Thobeka would want people to see her hard
because they were black female owned but because they into your business. “Don’t waste it, ensure that you build
work in attempting to make a difference in society. She
could deliver better service than their competitors. your capacity to be able to get more contracts, and be more
added, “I think I’ve been able to slowly do that. But I still reliable in the business.”
She explained, “Our competition takes us seriously, they
have a huge mountain to climb.”
see us as no nonsense women that are here to take up a Lastly, concluded Thobeka, “Learn as much as you can,
share of the market. We ensure that we built capacity Biza iAfrica has had to face challenges as horticulture is never think you know it all, train and educate yourself
through learning and that we have the right people a very white male dominated industry. As black women, continuously, and learn from other businesses and
in our company, who are able to deliver a service. This there is stigma attached to obtaining the opportunities from other people.”

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