Ingquza Hill Local Municipality funds Babi J and Sons charcoal manufactures a Lusikisiki-based, black-owned company that manufactures and produces charcoal using Acacia trees. Ndleleni says there were fifty projects that applied for funding but only ten were funded and he was one of the ten.
Out of the ten projects that were funded Babi J and sons charcoal Manufactures was at the top of the list and we got the highest amount. – said Ndleleni.
Babini Ndleleni the owner of Babi J and sons says they have been funded with start-up tools and personal protective equipment worth R518 000. These tools which include chainsaws, glasscutters, air compressors and generators among other tools will help their business grow. “When we were applying for this funding we had asked for working tools, the chainsaws, grass cutters so that we clean the site we will be working on and we also asked for the personal protective equipment. The total of our quotation was R2.5 million but the municipality said they’ll give us the R518 000 for now they will provide the transportation and warehouse later.” Said Ndleleni.
This company has been operating in unsafe environments for years without any safety gear. They have been burning charcoal using metal barrels and without any heat resistant suits, boots or gloves. This business which was started without any capital or any proper work tools will now have access to all the necessary tools that will improve how the business operates. Babini expressed his excitement and gratitude by saying
I am very happy and excited about the funding, I am so grateful to the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality for the funding and I also thank you as the media for telling my story. – Said Ndleleni.
Babi J and sons charcoal manufactures is a company that is aimed at developing skills of the youth and creating employment for the youth of Lusikisiki. Before receiving their funding the company had seven employees plus three freelancers working for the company. Since receiving the funding the company now has a total of twenty two employees working at the company. “Initially we had seven guys working there and freelancers, the funding has made it easy for us to add more people. This means we will no longer have a turnover of just R12 000 but we can even get to make a turnover of R100 000 a month and that is a massive growth for the company” said Babini Ndleleni.
Babini Ndleleni who studied primitive technology at Mozambique first trains the employees on charcoal manufacturing before they work. The official hand over of all this equipment has not yet been disclosed by the municipality.
