BY STAFF REPORTER
Siyaphi says she does not subscribe to old patriarchal belief that women should stay at home and be housewives. “I would love to see women in my community being empowered and becoming independent to prevent them from becoming subject to domestic violence. I work so hard to impose and instil independence in women. Hence, most of my employees are females,” she told Timeless.
As the country celebrates Womens Month, she said the month means recognising the hardworking women, considering that even after work they still need to look after their families.
Siyaphi is the owner of Ekhayalethu Trading 305 CC, an industrial cleaning company she started in 2007 because she wanted to provide for her family owing to her unemployment status at the time.
She started doing catering for schools and private functions in and around Emakhazeni community and later awarded a cleaning contract by Exxaro owned Belfast Coal thanks to hardwork, passion and dedication in her business which has grown to employ 30 people.
“My journey with Exxaro started when they ran a project of the Saturday school for matric students, and they were looking for a woman owned company to cater for the Saturday classes. I applied and made it to list of successful caterers,” she said.
“When Exxaro wanted to contract a cleaning company, Ekhayalethu was appointed as the preferred contractor,” she said. “From the appointment date, the company has been providing cleaning services to Exxaro and it has been running for 14 years. Exxaro has played a vigorous role in the growth of the business as it started off with 2 employees. Exxaro also assisted the company with a bakkie.”
She added that it is through the mentorship and trainings by Exxaro that her company, which is in a 3-year contract, can today feed more than 30 families.
“My dream is for the business to not only do office cleaning but to do industrial cleaning as well. I am also proud to have a team of dedicated, driven by excellence and hardworking employees who ensure that they provide excellent service and continue studying hard so that when opportunities avail themselves, they will grab them,” Siyaphi said.
