“Success is 80% preparation and 20% execution. That’s how I’ve built my business over the years.” 

Portio Dlamini didn’t grow up in a household of entrepreneurs. Raised by her grandparents in the rural village of eMpendle while her mother pursued a teaching qualification, Portio’s early life was shaped by resilience, discipline, and a deep respect for education. That foundation led her to a career in chemical engineering, with roles at Sappi, Sasol, and ultimately Unilever. But despite the security and prestige, something was missing. 

In those male-dominated industrial environments, Portio often felt unseen. She wasn’t just searching for a career—she was searching for purpose. During a period of reflection and counselling, she discovered the cleaning industry. What she saw there was both troubling and transformative: a workforce of marginalised, undervalued cleaners—yet a sector full of unrealised potential. That’s when her vision took shape. A company not just built to clean, but to elevate. A business that empowered cleaners to become leaders in their own right. 

She founded Emakheni in 2013. The first four years were punishing. The cleaning industry, though easy to enter, was hard to be trusted in. As a Black woman leading a high-risk, compliance-driven business, Portio had to fight for every contract. She entered with a technical mind but had to learn business leadership the hard way—navigating cashflow pitfalls, structuring sales, and shifting from employee to CEO mindset. 

But she didn’t give up. 

Today, Emakheni Group is a 100% Black female-owned, ISO 9001-certified facilities management company with an elite client list that includes Unilever, SLG, SA Home Loans, and NCS Resins. The business offers specialised industrial cleaning—high-pressure, high-level, and chemical cleaning—as well as integrated hygiene, contract cleaning, pest control, and landscaping services. Powered by Portio’s chemical engineering expertise, Emakheni brings technical precision to environments where safety, compliance, and operational uptime are non-negotiable. 

Their promise—“Transforming Lives While Cleaning Excellently”—is lived daily. Emakheni invests in rigorous training, promotes from within, and blends sustainability with social impact. 

Looking ahead, Portio is building beyond KwaZulu-Natal. With sights set on regional and national and expansion, AI-powered cleaning innovations, and an NPO to professionalise the sector, she’s redefining what leadership in cleaning can look like. Emakheni’ s long term vision includes being involved in the fuel, and chemical transportation sector in the manufacturing and petro-chemical industries. 

This isn’t just a story about facilities management. It’s about reclaiming dignity, unlocking potential, and transforming one of the most overlooked industries into a platform for real change. 

LinkedIn Spotlight post Version 

“I wasn’t just changing careers. I was reclaiming my purpose.” 

Portio Dlamini built her career as a chemical engineer, rising through Sappi, Sasol, and Unilever. But even with the prestige, something didn’t sit right. In male-dominated environments, she felt invisible. Disconnected. Unfulfilled. 

Then came a turning point. 

Through counselling, she discovered the cleaning industry—and something clicked. She saw how overlooked, underpaid, and marginalised cleaners were. And she knew: this was her calling. 

Not to clean—but to transform. 

In 2013, Portio launched Emakheni Group (Pty) Ltd. It wasn’t easy. It took four years to break into the market. As a Black woman in a compliance-heavy, low-trust industry, she had to fight to be seen. She operated like an employee, not a CEO. She made mistakes. Learned fast. And grew stronger. 

Today, Emakheni is a 100% Black female-owned, ISO 9001-certified facilities management company with a client base that includes Unilever, SLG, SA Home Loans, and NCS Resins. 

What they do: 

• Specialised industrial cleaning (high-pressure, high-level and chemical cleaning) 
• Facilities management: contract cleaning, hygiene, pest control, and landscaping 
• Audit-ready, compliance-driven solutions for industrial & commercial sectors 

Why it works: 

• A values-driven, engineering-led team—Emakheni trains and promotes leaders from within while bringing chemical engineering insight into every high-risk environment 
• Strict ISO protocols and KPI-driven delivery 
• Transformation-led purpose: “Transforming Lives While Cleaning Excellently” 

This business was never just about surfaces—it’s about systems. Emakheni develops talent, embeds leadership at every level, and operates with precision where others cut corners. 

Now, Portio’s building beyond KZN. She’s expanding to regional and national level, investing in AI-driven cleaning technologies, and laying the groundwork for an NGO that will professionalise and uplift the cleaning sector nationwide. 

Because when you’ve worked your way from the margins, you don’t just build a business. 

You build a movement. 

If you’re in the industrial, manufacturing, commercial, or property—and want a cleaning partner who understands your systems and shares your values—let’s connect.