Women-owned businesses are the best clients: NEF – SABC News
The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) in the Northern Cape says women-owned businesses remain their best clients as they are able to timeously settle their loans and remain stable and sustainable.
The NEF is encouraging those venturing into the business space to knock on their door.
The fund says it remains committed to aiding women-owned businesses.
NEF Regional Manager Kgatliso Manake says, “What I have personally found out is that women entrepreneurs really pay us back. Most importantly, they reinvest the proceeds that they make, they buy more stock and they also employ more staff, as well. What we have found as the National Empowerment Fund is that really, when you empower a woman, you really do empower the whole community.”
One of the NEF’s top clients is Onkabetse Civils and Mining, which supplies earthmoving equipment for mines, road construction, storm water and sewer projects.
The company, established in 2012, secured over R8 million in funding and remains a stable business that has created employment for others.
Business owner Maria Mooketsi says it has not been smooth sailing, but the challenges came as a learning curve.
Mooketsi says, “There are some challenges in terms of running a business. It is not easy, but we are really dedicated and we do have patience in terms of the challenges that we are experiencing, but with the knowledge that we have, we are really trying our best every day to strive for better. It starts with believing in yourself, there is nothing that can kill you if you have a dream, all you need to do is look at the right place and to look for the right people and to learn more. Learning doesn’t end in school, we learn every day.”