Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Flying the flag
Pandor shows her sweeping success
AISHA Pandor was named one of Africa’s Breakthrough Female Tech Entrepreneurs of 2017 by the World Economic Forum in Durban this week – but it was taking on motherhood which sparked her success.
This, in turn, translated into creating 3 000 jobs and a heightened sense of dignity for other mothers after she launched her SweepSouth app for domestic cleaners.
Her business, which she developed and launched in 2014 with her husband, Alen Ribic, matches customers and domestic staff known as Sweep Stars.
Speaking to Independent Media at the WEF conference at the ICC in Durban on Thursday, Pandor said it was her ambition to have a positive impact on others’ lives which saw her turning her back on her PhD in genetics.
“I studied human genetics, but then in my final year at UCT I also did a business management course.”.
After graduating, she spent two years working as a management consultant and it was when she was searching for someone to help look after her small daughter, that inspiration sparked.
“I went onto social media and asked for referrals.Trying to find someone was a long, involved and inefficient process,” she said.
Pandor and her husband developed the Sweep Stars app and a website. “We wanted to connect people and it had to be an efficient service. We bounced the idea off our domestic helper and she thought it was a fantastic concept. She spoke to others in our area and within a week or two we had a queue of women waiting to sign up,” said Pandor.
“This system also allows for flexibility ,” she said.
Because transport is a common challenge for many, a maximum of an hour journey is applied when matching a Sweep Star to a client, which means only one taxi fare is required.
They also ensure a decent rate of pay for their cleaners, Pandor said.
The service operates in Joburg, Durban, Cape Town and Pretoria.
Pandor, daughter of Science Minister Naledi Pandor, said they had closed a deal which would see the app being rolled out in other emerging markets.
On being named one of the Breakthrough Female Entrepreneurs, Pandor said: “It feels fantastic.”