Business hub with a big future
Three entrepreneurs team up to help others emulate their success
Ngamabom Developmental Hub (NDH) is a dynamic partnership of three women, founded on a simple premise: without true accountability nothing gets done, and that includes job creation.
NDH director Nokhanyo Maceba said the Xhosa name meant “deliberate”.
“I met my now partners, Gcinashe Gcanga and Sarahina Mayoyo, through church.
“We decided that the greatest weakness in our country was the total lack of accountability in many sectors.
“We decided to meet regularly to assist each other with our own accountability.
“It assisted us in delivering on our promises to ourselves. It was a simple start but it has led to a company with a boundless future.”
All three women own businesses that have the potential for branches and franchising opportunities throughout the country, as well as manufacturing spin-offs.
Maceba said her field was agriculture, both food production and agro-processing.
“While our diverse business backgrounds do not immediately indicate a natural partnership, our joint desire to succeed certainly does.”
She said their vast network gave them access to young entrepreneurs who picked up opportunities through NDH.
“Before I set up my own company, Agruse, I worked for Komani municipality in the agriculture department.
“I have a BA from Fort Hare, majoring in agriculture, and studied economics and marketing at Unisa.
“It distressed me that so many communities would get financial aid to farm, then take the money from the first harvest and not re-invest for the second harvest.
“They had no money for seed, fertiliser, fuel and other expenses.
“At Agruse we teach existing and would-be farmers about the realities of farming.
“We also have a youth programme focusing on setting up agro-processing businesses. I refer to it as turning pigs into bacon.”
Maceba said NDH’S farming arm’s timing was fortuitous.
A survey by research group BEYONDCOVID showed that 87% of small growers had not recovered from last year’s hard lockdown.
“So many rural communities really need our assistance. We are currently focusing on mohair and wool.
“In September, pandemic permitting, we are hosting an agriculture camp for farming students.
“I use my regular farming slot on Vukani Radio, a regional station in Chris Hani district, to encourage modern farming methods.”
Mayoyo studied engineering because “my parents wanted an engineer in the family,” but her calling was the business of helping people.
She is the CEO at Faceoff International, a published author, a life coach, and the host of TV show Chatting with Sarahina.
“I recently started a publishing house after I discovered that first-time authors were paid a pittance.”
Mayoyo also has a clothing range, #Butgod.
“I love the quote ‘What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us’ and use it as inspiration.
“I was raped when I was six. Healing young girls and women is one of my callings.
“I have several training facilitators who take programmes to the people, both online and face to face.”
Gcanga is a director of Losinda Wellness Solutions, a 100% black-owned company that is majority owned by women and youth.
“As trainers, coaches and wellness professionals, we provide wellness training and coaching services that cover the physical, mental, spiritual, emotional and sociocultural aspects of being human.
“We also work with organisations [assisting] them to establish and maintain healthy organisational cultures.”
She said she had spent 25 years in the public sector, 15 of which were at senior and executive management levels.
“I was involved in leadership, interpersonal relations, project management, organisational behaviour and change management.”
She said her career changed when she realised that she had to pursue her desire to serve humanity by finding ways to make life easy for others.
For information on NDH, contact director@agruse.co.za.