The sky is the limit for the 52-year-old Limpopo businesswoman Beauty Monene.
She is committed to doing her best, through her own efforts, to dominate the male-dominated industry.
The owner of Monenebe Maintenance and Projects, which has been in existence for 17 years, says her vision is to penetrate the mining industry and compete with “the big boys”.
Presently the company commands assets worth more than R16-million.
In an interview with Sunday World, Monene said she was pleased the company she established in 2006 was making strides and would in time become a serious player in the mining space.
The company started renting out machines in 2014. In 2012, the company had only one machine worth R200 000, and now has assets worth R16-million
The beginnings of the business kicked off with cleaning dustbins in estates and complexes.
It has grown to cleaning specific areas in large construction plants.
The company received a helping hand from Anglo American’s Zimele that pushed the growth of the brand grabbing opportunities within the mining sector.
Monene said: “I grew up in a male dominated home, with three brothers and a father who inspired me.
“They gave me the foundation and guided my footsteps.
“Interacting with males became something that I was never intimidated by, and over the years I have been able to form bonds to capacitate myself.”
Monene is involved in the day-to-day running of the business and its operations.
Her passion for business was driven first at the Woolworths, where she began her working career as a casual manager.
Monene also wanted to change the narrative that women cannot be involved in earthmoving equipment, especially in management, fleet and maintenance.
The company employs 47 workers and she says she is proud to play a role in the reduction of the country’s spiking unemployment rate.
“We have managed to grow from not owning a single fleet to owning a few of them and still considering increasing them based on the demand.
“Our maintenance strategy and implementation are set to place us in good stead for development.”
Monene said: “We donated masks to a school during Covid-19.
We are planning to paint one of the schools before the end of the year.
Monene holds a BCom degree and senior management diploma. She describes her journey as challenging but is confident her business will develop and
contribute to making a difference in society and economy.
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