Disele May Foundation (DMF) in partnership with the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Social Development Region F celebrated a Building the Township Economy event.
Themed “Celebrating 30 years of freedom towards women’s development”, the event was hosted at South Hills Recreation Centre together with the COJ’s supply chain, different stakeholders and Ward 57 Clr, Faeeza Chame.
Empowered and united
The purpose of the event was to celebrate women of the south in business, and aspiring entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs to network, celebrate women’s achievements and contributions, and progress towards gender equality.
Founder of DMF, Disele Mokgatlhe May from Winchester Hills shared: “I wanted ideas to ignite, connections to spark and dreams to take flight. Imagine a space buzzing with like-minded individuals, each on a journey to make a spark and we believe we achieved it.
“I believe in the saying; ‘if you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together’.”
An inspiration journey
May highlighted: “I left my matrimonial home because of domestic violence in 2007 and since then I wanted to be an independent woman, regardless of my poor background and not to be reliant on a man.
“After facing many challenges in the corporate world, I refused to let trauma and difficulties dissuade me from pursuing my goal of running my own business. While I was still working, I took my leave days to attend business short courses to upskill myself theoretically and practically in construction.”
After May resigned from her workplace, she started with general building maintenance, civil work and cleaning business, embracing challenges and seizing opportunities despite gender biases.
“Despite challenges like lack of work experience, through my hard work, dedication and perseverance I beat the odds,” said May.
As time progressed, she ventured into other businesses, which caused her to spend less time at the office.
“Many factors, including lockdown, contributed to the downfall of my businesses and since then I am still working so hard to reinstate it,” added the resilient woman.
Her vision merged business with compassion to create opportunities and partnerships, making a difference and fulfilling the purpose of God for her life.
“It was in 2017 when I founded my NPO in support of the empowerment of economically marginalised groups which includes survivors of abuse, and parolees to prevent social ills such as GBVF, crime, teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, substance abuse which happen in many families as caused by poverty, unemployment, and fatherlessness.
Last year, May started working with CoJ under the Pay Per Service Program, an economic empowerment programme for women and LGBTQI in 5 regions.
“The participants still call me for further assistance after the programme ended, including those who I did not train, and this made me realise the need to sustain this programme, incorporating it into township economy seminars, hence this pilot program.”
CoJ Supply Chain was invited to share the opportunities for SMMEs and how to register on the city’s database.
May also serves at the city on the GBVF advisory committee.
“My focus is in response to pillar five of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
Pillar five sets out to address economic power or women’s equal economic and social positions or inequalities in access to economic opportunities including government and private sector procurement, financial resources and other income-generating initiatives to empower marginalised groups including women in entrepreneurship to be independent and provide for themselves and their children.
“This will prevent women from staying in an abusive environment,” emphasised May.
Sabelo Tshabalala shared the opportunities the CoJ Supply Chain has for SMMEs. He encouraged women to pay their municipal rates on time and make sure their business compliances are up to date to be considered preferential suppliers.
He explained the steps to register on the city’s database. For aspiring SMMEs who would like to register their businesses, he advised them to visit 63 Jorrison Street in Johannesburg CBD, to get information on registering their business free of charge.
Future endeavours
DMF will be embarking on establishing a women‘s business forum across all the CoJ regions that will be focusing on women’s economic empowerment activities.
It will be a continuation of the initiation that May has dealt with in the Pay Per Service program of entrepreneurship, women and LGBTQI economic empowerment seminars.
In each region, there will be a business executive forum to champion the initiative of this business forum for better sustainable women‘s empowerment in the township economy.
The speakers were grateful for the opportunity to share their journeys with other incredible women; the wisdom exchanged and the networking with such powerful ladies was inspiring.
“I am thankful to the sponsors, stakeholders and the community for making the event a huge success,” concluded May.
Present on the day
May invite stakeholders such as Kgomotso Mogorosi an entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Kgomotso Legacy and Cosmo Funerals, Bongani Nkosi deputy president of Township Economic Commission SA (TECSA), Ouma Khasu founder of Women Developing Others (WDO), Phemelo May founder and CEO of Tyro Studio and Great Aspects Innovations, Onndwela Mudau MMG financial advisor, pastor Refilwe, pastor and health coach Bongi Gladness founder and CEO BG-Go, Luthando Madhlopa founder of Madhlopa Brand Reputation Management and Sabelo Tshabalala, a representative from CoJ Supply Chain.
