GLM TEAM 
In a bold move to champion female entrepreneurship, renowned investor and philanthropist Zunaid Moti has awarded six small-scale business owners with R10,000 each through his acclaimed MotiMoves mentorship programme. This boost aims to accelerate the growth of their small businesses, demonstrating Moti’s unwavering commitment to women-owned establishments.
Taking his support even further, Moti surprised his loyal female social media followers with Takealot vouchers worth R50,000. The Women’s Month competition, which invited women across South Africa to share compelling video pitches about their business ideas and challenges, sparked national participation, highlighting the significant demand for resources to support women entrepreneurs. Moti’s initiative reinforces his vision of driving real, transformative change in South Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape.
“I’m in awe of these women who dare to dream big and work tirelessly to turn those dreams into reality. They’re the true definition of strength and resilience,” notes Moti.
After weeks of combing through over a hundred sincere and well-thought-through videos tagging Moti on TikTok, Instagram, X, or YouTube, the winners have been selected.
“While I originally wanted to give away a total of R50,000 to five inspiring and deserving women, I was so touched by many of the submissions that I had to add at least one more. It’s important that we support our up-and-coming female entrepreneurs as they help build South Africa’s future, teach our children how to be entrepreneurs themselves, and inspire other women to follow their leads.”
R60,000 to boost small, female-led businesses
The first of six women Moti chose, Zainab Dawood, recently lost most of her furniture and took to X to share her story. She has been rebuilding slowly, starting a small landscaping business with her son, primarily offering grass-cutting for pensioners and lower-income households. Unfortunately, they have been limited to how many lawns they can cut using only a single grass cutter. The R10,000 will allow Dawood to purchase an additional cutter, leaf blower, and enough nylon line to keep them going.
Faathimah Mahomed founded Taizar Treats just one day after being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She said on Facebook her business became a way to keep her mind occupied as she faced the reality of surgery and chemotherapy eight months later. After a successful procedure that removed seven lymph nodes from her arm, Faathimah was left with some weakness, making tasks like kneading dough more difficult. She plans to use the R10,000 prize to purchase a heavy-duty mixer to help lighten the load and keep her business thriving.
Through her Facebook post, Ren Ayair said she is transforming her lifelong passion for sewing into an eco-friendly business aimed at providing women with a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to disposable sanitary pads. Her reusable pads can be used, washed, and reused up to 150 times, potentially saving women hundreds of rand annually while reducing environmental waste.
Looking to take her waffle and boba tea business out of the kitchen and onto the road, Wagida Ally responded on TikTok and said she plans to use the R10,000 to finish building her mobile food trailer and purchase additional machinery so that she can visit weekend markets, festivals, and school events to significantly improve her sales.
Chantell Ashleigh Kock responded on Facebook that she is eager to grow her makeup and lash extension business while addressing the physical strain it puts on her body. Her current setup, which involves applying lashes on a regular bed, has worsened her chronic pain issues. With the R10,000 prize, she plans to invest in a specialized treatment bed to alleviate discomfort and enrol in a makeup masterclass to further enhance her skills.
Lastly, Nosipho Dlamini said on Instagram she is eager to expand her perfume reselling business by introducing a wider range of fragrances and reaching new customers. After experiencing significant recent success, she plans to use the R10,000 to build on that momentum and grow her business even further.
“I’m reminded again that when someone puts their mind to it, identifies the needs in their community, and builds a business that speaks to those needs, they can achieve many great things. I believe these six women will make good use of the money to kick-start their businesses’ success. I look forward to helping more of my social media friends in the near future,” concludes Moti.
About The Author
