Mandeni poultry start-up hatches eggcellent victory in iLembe Chamber Entrepreneur competition
Qandalami started as a small, home-based broiler business breeding 100 birds at a time, but has since expanded with 10 000 chickens delivering about 9 500 eggs a day.
Clucking good eggs and a solid business plan have clinched Mandeni-based Qandalami poultry agribusiness bragging rights at the annual iLembe Chamber of Commerce’s The Entrepreneur competition.
While chickens cannot fly, business owners Ntwenhle Linda and Silondile Nxumalo certainly are after their big win at the finale held at VW Ballito last Friday.
Operating under Lunginhlahla Projects, Qandalami is female-owned and was established in 2020 with the goal of producing and selling eggs.
Qandalami started as a small, home-based broiler business breeding 100 birds at a time, but it has since expanded and with 10 000 egg-laying chickens today produces about 9 500 eggs a day.
While the duo mostly sell eggs to semi-formal and informal markets, including town shops, wholesalers and farmgate sales, they have plans to expand their operations in the next five years to a 30 000-layer unit, which could see them produce the same number per day.
Elated with the win, managing director Linda said they hoped to open a retail space next.
Business partner and co-director Nxumalo said The Entrepreneur competition had helped them gain the momentum, knowledge and exposure they needed.
“This programme has been a life-changing experience, from equipping us with the skills needed to succeed to offering insight from professional business owners, too,” they said.
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Second place went to Shakaskraal-based Defyn Dezign, owned by Thandeka Malinga.
Using her experience in civil engineering, interior design and carpentry, Malinga’s company specialises in interior design and the manufacturing of furniture.
Third place was taken by KwaDukuza-based Amila Cleaning Service, run by Nandipha Madzanga.
It offers industrial and commercial cleaning and garden services.
Enterprise iLembe CEO Linda Mncube commended competitors for their resilience and determination.
He said he was impressed that many of the businesses were created in response to community needs.
“Small businesses are the engine driving the economy,” he said.
The annual entrepreneurial development programme is presented by the iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, in partnership with Enterprise iLembe, Airports Company South Africa, Siza Water, ENGIE Peakers Operations, The University of KwaZulu-Natal and The North Coast Courier.
Finalists are exposed to intensive business mentorship through tuition and practical application as part of the programme co-designed by the University of KwaZulu-Natal and US-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The winners each take their share of R65 000 in business funding and R90 000 in advertising sponsored by the Courier.
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