Thembeni sets an example
THEMBENI Kunene says although she has entered the unfamiliar field of business and engineering, she is taking every challenge in her stride. Kunene, of Mandlakala near eSikhaleni, is the co-owner of Skhova Engineering. ‘My business partner Bheki Shosha is the one who studied engineering and he came up with the idea of starting the business, which he registered in November last year. ‘When he approached me to become a partner it was daunting because engineering had never been part of my plans, but I guess he had faith in me,’ Thembeni said.
She said her goal after finishing matric at Mcabango High School had been to study nursing or social work at the University of Zululand.
‘But owing to financial constraints I was not able to do so.
‘After high school I did temporary jobs here and there to assist with expenses in the household, just as my sisters did after they finished school.’
However her path took a new route when she joined Skhova Engineering, a steel fabrication and manufacturing business.
Since joining, the 28-year-old has been attending workshops as part of the incubation programme at the Downstream Aluminium Centre for Technology(DACT) in Richards Bay.
‘The centre has been instrumental in helping me understand what it takes to have your own business.
‘They have taught us about marketing and provided various other tools to stand on your own.
‘You literally receive help from the ground up and that includes registering your company, creating business cards and they even provide a work space equipped with machinery to use at the centre,’ Thembeni said.
She said her long term goal now is to begin her training in welding and obtain an engineering qualification.
‘I want to set an example and be the first person in my family to have a qualification.
‘I always want to be present when the welding is being done because it is part of my learning.
‘I want to be part of changing the narrative that this field is only for men. Women can also hold a grinding machine and do the work.
‘There is no field that we cannot venture into,’ she said.