Logistics company Nolitha TS was named the 2018 National Rising Star Champion at the South African Small Business Awards that took place in Johannesburg recently.
The award recognises the strength and potential of the business, which only started in 2016.
As for the win, company founder Nolitha Nkosi-Tshabalala says she was in a state of disbelief when her name was announced.
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“The night before I was emotional as people started sending me emails, congratulating me on the nomination, which I felt just put a lot of pressure on me.
“I had no idea who they called on stage and I just went on stage and just started dancing,” says Nolitha.
She says her company started with her love of driving.
“I started driving at 16, and the very first vehicle I learned how to drive was a bus.
“When EnviroServe sent out an announcement saying they were looking for black female-owned companies that could offer trucks as one of their sub-contractors, I really raised my hand quite high because they fascinated me.
“I already knew scholar transport and driving buses, so it was really a different form of transportation. I wanted to explore that interest,” says Nolitha.
The 36-year-old says she started small and bought a horse (the front part of the truck) and EnviroServe assisted her by lending her a trailer so she could start transporting the waste.
So vital was their partnership that Nolitha says she would not be here without them.
The company has since grown so much that Nolitha has bought her own trailer and a second truck.
The Dersley resident says although the journey into business has not been smooth sailing, she wants to continue and encourage more women to get into the industry.
“I want to see more women in the industry and employ female drivers.
“I want to get my 50 trucks, 50 female drivers and work all over Africa,” says Nolitha.
