Third successful round for Thuthukani
Among the graduates of the Enterprise and Supplier Development programme is a growing group of women-led businesses gaining real traction in their industries.
Thuthukani, Thungela’s Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme, hosted a graduation ceremony for 61 local entrepreneurs from communities surrounding its operations.
This marks the third cohort of entrepreneurs to successfully complete the programme since its launch in 2022.
Thuthukani is designed to build resilient businesses by offering tailored business skills training, technical enablement, and one-on-one mentorship to entrepreneurs from host communities.
The programme is grounded in a detailed gap analysis and enables support in areas such as finance management, marketing, sales, project strategy, leadership, ISO certification, and personal development.
The programme is delivered in partnership with business development service provider Raizcorp.
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Of the 61 entrepreneurs graduating this year, 29 are supplier development beneficiaries – Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) that currently provide goods or services to Thungela, while 32 are enterprise development beneficiaries, comprising SMMEs that are not vendors but have potential for future integration into the mining value chain or in other industries.
Notably, 50 of the 61 graduates also achieved technical enablement qualifications with the following accreditations ISO or whichever one, lets share a couple of them, boosting their compliance and competitiveness for procurement opportunities.
“Thuthukani is more than a business development initiative. It is a catalyst for local economic resilience. Each graduate represents a point of impact that causes a ripple effect, creating jobs and opportunities that uplift families and communities. We are proud to support the growth of these entrepreneurs and help them realise their potential – as they contribute to the growth of local economies, said Mpumi Sithole, executive head, corporate affairs at Thungela.”
The graduation highlights Thungela’s commitment to inclusive socio-economic development and transforming small businesses in in host communities.
As the programme grows, its impact continues to spread, with entrepreneurs not only formalising their businesses, but also entering new markets, gaining critical certifications, and becoming active contributors to the regional economy.
Julliet Mahlangu a beneficiary of the programme said, “Before Thuthukani, I lacked the systems and structure to manage and scale my business. The mentorship and technical training helped me implement better financial controls, and I now feel more confident approaching new clients and bidding for contracts.”
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