Opening doors for businesses

Opportunity to market local products

TERENCE Leluma went from working with nine people to having 43 employees. Being a member of Proudly South African has opened many doors for him.

“We started this journey in 2016 when I went to meet my in-laws in Diepkloof. My wife’s father was making this relish and after tasting it I thought the whole world needs to know about this,” said the founder of spice condiment brand, Makhamisa.

Since then, they had performed scientific trials and started making and packaging Makhamisa – condiments with African heritage flavours which include Pickled Vegetables Hot, Pickled Vegetables Mild, Jalapeno Sauce Hot and Jalapeno Sauce Mild.

“The response was highly positive and we started building a business case over two years and thought that since we had already spent over R450000 – selling a flat and a bakkie – we would approached the Industrial Development Corporation of SA (IDC).

“Today, we have managed to secure R56 million to build a world-class manufacturing facility.”

Their factory received a cash injection and a grant for business development from the IDC and the Department of Trade & Industry.

“It is through hard work, commitment and dedication, driving this single vision of being the preferred supplier of condiments using indigenous ingredients as core ingredients.”

Leluma is one of the participants at the Buy Local Summit and Expo taking place next month.

Yesterday, Proudly SA hosted a media launch for the two-day expo that will focus on the needs of small businesses.

Now in its eighth year, the summit will focus on the theme “Localisation through Investment led Re-Industrialisation”.

Proudly South African chef executive Eustace Mashimbye said accessibility was one of the key issues with finding local products.

“Through this event we are making it easier for people to identify those products that are made locally and to put the faces to some of those brands that have exciting products.

The two-day expo on March 12 and 13 in Sandton, Gauteng, is open to the public, free of charge.

Mashimbye said there will be a conference and a summit on the first day where entrepreneurs will be showcasing their products and experts would be assisting SMMEs.

The second day of the summit would focus on localisation and how procurement can be leveraged to the benefit of business and the country.