Local entrepreneur and self-acclaimed ‘bush baby’ benefits greatly from Women in Mining training programme

Owner of Japino Enterprise in eMalahleni, Pinky Mahlangu, is one of 20 local entrepreneurs chosen by Seriti to participate in the Women in Mining training programme.

The programme was launched in May 2022 and focuses on developing female entrepreneurs and assisting in growing their businesses.

Pinky was born and raised in eMalahleni and completed her electrical engineering studies at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Witbank and Pretoria Campuses.

Her first job was with Samancor in Burgersfort as a maintenance coordinator where she gained valuable experience and skills.

However, she started her business in 2015 to fulfil a lifelong dream of owning her own enterprise and giving back to the community by creating job opportunities.

Japino Enterprise, with its 12 employees, focuses on engineering consulting, construction of overhead lines, HT cable termination, earthing and lightning protection.

A new start-up usually comes with heaps of challenges and Pinky struggled with marketing her services and breaking into the industry.

Funding and obtaining much-needed resources, such as another heavy vehicle and equipment to service clients’ needs, remain obstacles.

Her participation in the Women in Mining programme, being managed and run by Collective Value Creation, enables Pinky to expand her marketing offering across various platforms, as she learns the value and difference between sales and marketing.

So far, her company’s website was amended to reflect a more professional image and she has since noticed a rapid improvement in the business’ sales figures.

Another aspect of the training, which she hopes to master soon, is to establish sound human resources policies for her company’s employees.

She is grateful for the sponsorship by Seriti to upskill female entrepreneurs and hopes this programme will continue, thereby enabling others to realise their dreams.

One aspect of the programme is the one-on-one mentoring which Pinky finds ‘amazing’ as business owners are often on a lonely journey.

However, personal mentoring enables them to sharpen and shape their skills in a more comfortable and intimate space.

Asheka Lee, personal development coach on the programme, comments on the programme.

“What I love about this programme is that it helps women entrepreneurs compete in a male-dominated industry, by embracing their talents, strengths and authenticity. They can also learn and apply business skills that allow them to grow their businesses and stand out in the mining industry.”

Pinky is a mother of two young children and likes to stay fit and whenever her busy schedule allows, travels within South Africa to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

She considers herself a “bush baby” with her favourite place being the serene mountains of the Western Cape.

She regards her husband and children as her invaluable support structure.

To remain humble and respect everyone, is this businesswoman’s philosophy in life and she wishes she could go back to her younger self, assuring her that “you are stronger than you realise.”

Apart from growing her business locally, she dreams of one day visiting China, hoping to learn how to approach manufacturing on a global scale and maybe expand her business globally as well.

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