As the country battles the coronavirus pandemic and its devastating effect on lives and livelihoods, a women-owned small business in the west of Johannesburg was afforded an opportunity for upliftment.  

Pello Yabasadi Business Enterprise, a company in the health and safety sector, received an order for 5 000 masks from construction materials producer, AfriSam, for its workforce. The company identified the women-owned protective clothing manufacturer as a supplier, in line with its policy of supporting and creating concrete opportunities for local entrepreneurs and its efforts to uplift society at large.

“When I received the order from AfriSam, I was a bit overwhelmed because my company had never received an order of such a large quantity of products,” says Pello Yabasadi Business Enterprise owner Tumi Phooko.

Pello Yabasadi Business Enterprise is a beneficiary of AfriSam’s Enterprise and Supplier Development programme and the company wanted to use this opportunity to create an additional revenue stream for the enterprise.  As an entrepreneur, Phooko received business development training and mentorship from AfriSam’s Business Development Centre, graduating in 2018.

AfriSam also assisted the company to acquire a permit to conduct business during the lockdown period and provided capital, as part of its supplier development programme, to purchase material which could also be used to supply masks to other customers.

Pello Yabasadi produces corporate clothing, uniforms, protective gear, safety shoes and now face masks, and has been in operation for five years. The face masks were tested and passed AfriSam’s safety quality control measures, ensuring a high-quality product.