Light at the end of the veggie tunnel – Ilembe

She is innovative, a go-getter and filled with eagerness for success: 27-year-old Welile Gumede, from Maphumulo is the founder of Azowel Projects and the proud winner of third place in the 2018 Ilembe Chamber Entrepreneur Competition.

Gumede is getting her hands dirty restoring a number of neglected greenhouse tunnels in the Ilembe region with the aim of selling the vegetables she grows to Enterprise Ilembe’s school nutrition programme.

For the past two years she has been knocking on doors trying to get permission to take over other abandoned projects with little luck. But fortune favours the brave and she secured the use of eight tunnels in Madundube.

“Fortunately when I presented my plans to our chief, he liked my idea and allowed me to use the tunnels.

“My plan is to plant vegetables with Enterprise Ilembe being my main target market.

“They are buying vegetables from local farmers for the school’s nutrition programme, but local produce only makes up 65 percent of what they need and the rest has to be sourced outside the region. The remaining 35 percent is an opportunity I do not want to pass up.”

But before she can start counting her cabbages Gumede admits that there is still a lot of work to be done to restore the tunnels to working order.

“I still need to get lights, fix the water pump so that I can have the irrigation system sorted, fix the fence and polish the condition of some of the tunnels.”

The 2008 Windsor Secondary School matriculant holds a dental assisting high certificate obtained at the Durban University of Technology and an N6 chemical engineering certificate from the Berea Technical College.

She entered the Entrepreneur Competition hoping to increase her business savvy and perhaps find the key to unlocking her dream for Azowel Projects.

“I must say I learnt a lot about business and I am prepared to take all the knowledge gained and apply it throughout my business journey.”

As she now focuses on getting her tunnels functioning Gumede knows that her business plan is a solid one (enough to earn her third place) and that gives her immense confidence for the future.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram