06/12/2024
Mrs Lethiwe Dlamini Msibi ,a multi award winning Hollywood Foundation Bambelela Business Awards 2nd prize recipient, WNFN Inspirational Women 2024 and UKZN Social Entrepreneur Alumni. Mrs Msibi is the visionary & CEO of Makoti life and Style , Founder of Isithebe Women Empowerment Program and Managing Director of Isithebe Skills Development & Entrepreneurial Hub.
In 2016, Makoti Life and Style came into being through the Isithebe Skills & Entrepreneurship program. Its main purpose was to aid underprivileged communities in Dannhauser and nearby areas. Isithebe’s primary focus was on combating poverty, unemployment, and social issues by providing opportunities in crafts, arts, culinary, design, sports, and culture, particularly targeting young people and underprivileged women. and Additionally, offer training to assist individuals and groups in launching their own businesses. However, these individuals and businesses encountered difficulties in selling their products due to limited access to city markets.
Makoti Life and Style an exclusive modern bridal boutique is not only a retail wedding supplies hub but is dedicated to empowering women by offering a unique platform for business growth. Instead of directly providing resources, we host workshops and training sessions featuring experts from organizations like Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), NYDA, EDTEA, CIPC, and business consulting firms. These sessions, held annually in August as part of Women’s Month celebrations, equip women with essential knowledge on starting and expanding their businesses. Furthermore, we offer ongoing support by conducting follow-up visits throughout the year to assess their progress and provide additional assistance as needed.
Makoti Life and Style is dedicated to empowering women through the Isithebe skills and entrepreneurship program, which includes the annual Isithebe Women Conference held every August. This month-long event serves as a platform for women from diverse backgrounds—widows, youth, women with disabilities, orphans, survivors of gender-based violence, professionals, and entrepreneurs—to showcase their talents, attend workshops, and network.
In light of our recent accomplishments, we have launched the very 1st Skills hub Centre in Dannhauser which will be used as a vessel to empower underprivileged women and youth around the area following an online app store to showcase our products and services, effectively creating a proudly South African Makoti boutique app store experience for our customers. Anticipating a surge in demand upon the store’s online launch, we’re planning to invest in machinery to enhance our productivity. This expansion will not only create more job opportunities but also lead to increased sales for our women beneficiaries and partner businesses.The beauty of this endeavor is its mutual benefit: as suppliers to Makoti Life and Style under the Isithebe skills and entrepreneurship development program, these partner businesses will experience a boost in demand, potentially necessitating the hiring of additional personnel to meet production needs. This symbiotic relationship ensures growth and success for both Makoti Life and Style and its partner companies.