An
initiative by the Mpumalanga provincial government to empower small businesses
in the construction sector will see Shamila Trading Enterprises build Rolle
village in Bushbuckridge one brick at a time.
Shamila
Trading Enterprises – a brick production business – is one of 29 small, medium
and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in Thulamahashe district, Mpumalanga, which were
identified and selected for business development.
Through
the provincial government’s assistance and mentoring, Shamila Trading
Enterprises was awarded product certification earlier this month by the South
African Bureau of Standards (SABS) for its products.
The
programme was conceptualised and funded by the provincial Department of
Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT) and the Mpumalanga Economic Growth
Agency (MEGA).
SABS was
the implementation partner that worked with the SMMEs to develop quality
management systems, processes and guide the way towards product
certification.
“The path
towards achieving product certification has not been easy, however the benefits
have been rewarding and has set us apart from other brick making
companies. As a business owner you just want to get on with the business
of getting contracts to supply bricks, however to really participate in
economic opportunities you need product certification,” said Shamila Trading
Enterprises CEO and founder Shadow Nyathi.
The SABS
certificate provides assurance to clients that products meet quality standards
and that the required management systems are in place.
The
company has been making bricks commercially since 2011, but realised that it
needed to significantly develop the business and meet quality standards, if it
were to get lucrative contracts.
Thulamahashe
was identified by provincial government as an area that required infrastructure
and that construction resources should be sourced from local communities.
Shamila
Trading Enterprises realised the potential and began to significantly invest in
developing the business to meet the demand of developments in the area.
“We
intend to increase our production and we have already seen a significant
increase in clients requiring our services,” said Nyathi.
Shamila
has grown in the last two years from one employee making a few bricks for
community use, to employing 56 employees currently. The majority (41) of
employees are residents of Rolle village.
“Job
creation, the ability to learn skills and participate in the development
opportunities in our neighbourhood provides tangible hope for my community for
a brighter future,” said Nyathi.
SABS
Acting CEO Garth Strachan said partnerships with provincial governments and
organisations like DEDT and MEGA prove to be successful in developing a
sustainable local supplier base for quality products.
“Without the significant development of SMMEs, they will continue to remain on the side-lines of economic opportunities. Such partnerships moves beyond the development of SMMEs for development sake by creating real market participation opportunities, so that local businesses and the communities they serve begin to thrive,” said Strachan. https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/building-rolle-village-one-brick-time
