TWIB winner 2001 - Yoliswa Kashe Mzamo
It's raining accolades when it comes to dynamic businesswoman, Yolisa Kashe-
Mzamo. Lady Luck has been smiling at her since the year 2001.
It all started when she scooped the 2001 Technology for Women In Business (TWIB)
award in the Clothing and Textile category. She was chosen for putting the intent,
purpose and aspirations of the TWIB Programme tangibly and visibly at the doorstep of every woman.
TWIB is a technology promotion initiative sponsored by the Department of Trade and
Industry (the dti) targeting women in business who uses technology solutions in the
operations of their businesses. It is aimed at enhancing the accessibility of science
and technology to small, medium and macro enterprises.
Yolisa is one of King Williamstown's greatest business success stories. Unemployed only
a few years ago, but now with a multi-million rand contract under her belt, the accolades
are pouring in. The Eastern Cape clothing manufacturer cum construction owner, won in her
capacity as manager and founder of YKM Productions.
"I did not expect to win, but I want to dedicate my award to all the women who are currently
struggling at the bottom in our province," she said. "If only the Eastern Cape women could
be united, to combine our efforts in the fight against poverty… then we will change lives.
I was almost down and out, but I never gave up. I hope my success will inspire other people
who are in the same position that I was in. I don't have all the solutions but I believe
that if we can link up and share ideas for the sake of development then we can succeed," she
said in her acceptance speech.
At the TWIB Awards ceremony the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry (the dti) the champion
of the programme congratulated YKM for "beating all odds to become a supplier of choice to
an internationally prestigious company like Daimler Chrysler SA."
Speaking about the experience three years down the line, Yolisa says her involvement with
the dti has exposed her to much bigger opportunities.
"From winning TWIB and associating with the dti group I've changed my mindset and I'm now
more focused at lifting other women up as I also grow economically. I've also expanded
my business interests and gone into construction in a big way. I've learnt that when
opportunity arises one has to grab it," says an upbeat Yolisa.
Yolisa has been in the clothing manufacturing industry since 1986, was almost down and out
five years ago but she never gave up. Recession had left her unemployment but in 1999 she
established YKM Productions in King Williamstown with a staff of 32, specializing in manufacturing
uniforms for DaimlerChrysler South Africa (DCSA) and corporate clothing. Various well-known retail
stores bought her products including Game stores, Pep stores, Ackermans and Shoprite. They include
baby vests, men's and boy's briefs and rugby shorts.
She says she won the DCSA contract based on the quality and service she offers.
"I'm very humble when it comes to prices. The first thing to me is service and quality then the
money will follow," she said.
Since then Yolisa secured a three-year contract with DCSA valued at R6,2 million and now has a
staff membership of 75, three quarters of which are women.
YKM Productions received the International Gold Star Award for Quality in Gold Category in Geneva,
Switzerland and she been to Thailand and Malaysia to undergo textile studies.
In 2001 Yolisa was honoured in Cape Town by the organizers of the South African Checkers Woman of
the Year awards. Yolisa, who is a great role model to the women of the region was awarded the top
business category prize in the Shoprite-Checkers/SABC3 Woman of the Year competition.
As a TWIB winner, her duties entailed that she become an ambassador for the dti and its agencies,
informing other women and men in business about opportunities within the dti group. She is still
doing that and is now playing a major role in mobilizing and organising black businesses to
participate in programmes offered by the National Federated Chamber of Commerce (NAFCOC).
"It's very important that black business should speak with one voice. Lack of participation
in Chamber activities black enterprises are losing out business opportunities and information
about development initiatives for themselves and their communities," she says now.
Yolisa has worked hard at growing and improving her business. She also collaborated with SAFRI,
the Southern Africa Initiative of German Business to prepare a case study of YKM Productions for
presentation at a workshop entitled "Excellence - the key to Competitiveness". The first step
was to conduct a self-assessment using the SA Excellence Model, which is similar to those used in
the United States by Malcolm Balridge national Quality Awards (MBNQA) and by the European Foundation
for Quality management (EFQM). Scoring results are comparable, thereby allowing Kashe Mzamo to
benchmark her organisation internationally.
Soon afterward, also in 2001, she won the prestigious Excellence Award in the SMME category .
The award's primary task is to create a platform in Germany from which the South African business
achievers can show their investor's potential.
Yolisa is appreciative of the role that government and para-statals have assisted her in business
aspirations. Those include the dti group of institutions " including the Deputy Minister, Lindiwe
Hendricks has always listened', the Centre for Investment marketing in the Eastern cape (CIMEC),
the National SMME Empowerment Federation, the National Federated Chamber of Commerce (NAFCOC) and
the TWIB programme.
Contact details: Yolisa Kashe-Mzamo, YKM Productions, P.O. Box 616, KingWilliamstown, 5600
Cell: 072 247 0004
Visit the TWIB website for more
information on this initiative http://www.twib.co.za
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