When Boitumelo Dikwidi walked away from her retail job in Kuruman, she did not see it as leaving behind a paycheque but as stepping into a purpose filled future. Inspired by her mother’s love for sewing and a quiet yet persistent dream of doing more, Dikwidi’s decision changed not only her life, but the lives of many women around her.
That decision, meaning Tshwetso in Tswana, became the name of her sewing business and the heartbeat of her journey and legacy.
She started operating Tshwetso in 2016 from her home and worked with her mother on small projects such as garment repairs and alterations, making a small profit to help raise her two daughters. Her vision was always bigger than hems and stitches as she realised that she needed knowledge and support to scale up the business.
Turning point leads to new road
The turning point came last August when she officially registered her business and joined Anglo American’s enterprise development programme, Zimele. Designed to support entrepreneurs in host communities, the start-up bootcamp programme which she completed in three months, introduced her to financial planning, business modelling, and real-world pitching.
Through the programme she gained confidence to pitch to potential customers, leading to her getting the opportunity to work with the schools within her local community.
“I used to buy small amounts of fabric and made tiny profits, the ratio to profits vs inventory did not make sense. Following the completion of the programme, I saw a difference in businesses finances. Now that I buy in bulk, I’m finally seeing a return on investment.”
Boitumelo Dikwidi
During the pitch competitions of the programme she found her voice and learnt to stay strong and never lose hope.
“We believe that unlocking the potential of women and youth is key to building thriving, resilient communities. By equipping them with tools, training, and confidence to lead their own businesses, we are investing in the future of South Africa.” Larisha Naidoo, managing director of Anglo American Zimele said.
Today, Dikwidi supplies uniforms to five local schools and employs nearly ten women during peak seasons. She envisions a large workshop in Seoding where unemployed women can learn to sew, earn an income, and build futures of their own.
Her daughters now watch their mother not just as a provider, but as a pioneer: A woman who turned a single decision into a movement of possibility.
You must be logged in to post a comment.