Khathwane selected as one of 100 Most Influential People of African Descent in business
MIDRAND – Founder of AfroBotanics Ntombenhle Khathwane nominated as one of the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent.
Founder and owner of Midrand-based AfroBotanics, Ntombenhle Khathwane, has been nominated as one of the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent (Mipad) 2017 in the Business and Entrepreneurship category.
The honorees were announced during the World Economic Forum on Africa in Durban between 3 and 5 May 2017. “I am honoured and humbled to have been selected by Mipad amongst such talented individuals,” said Khathwane. “My African heritage has been an integral part of my business journey and as such is one that I am extremely proud of.”
AfroBotanics is a natural hair and body care company and its factory is based in Midrand. The product range is available at an online store and on the shelves of major retailers including Pick and Pay, Game and Clicks.
It is a market leader in the growing natural hair movement and currently employs five staff and generates about R2.5 million annually, which is set to double in 2017.
The Mipad selection panel considered the contributions and the impact of individuals through their business ideas, successful enterprises, innovative thinking, net worth and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Khathwane further said that as a proud African woman, she was thrilled that she had been able to build a thriving business that honours generations of African women and age-old beauty traditions derived in a sustainable manner from natural sources around Africa.
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“Beauty and presentation of one’s self has always been central in African cultures denoting different things such as age, social, political, cultural and religious status and I am honored that I get to play a part in keeping our history alive to share with the world. Importantly, I love that AfroBotanics is part of conversations on the continent about redefining the standard of beauty – coily, curly hair and brown skin are also beautiful.”
The awards dinner in honour of the Mipad class of 2017 will be held on 26 September 2017 in New York City, following the opening of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, with former US President Barack Obama and current UN Secretary-General AntÓnio Guterres attending as keynote speakers. Trevor Noah will host the event.
