Thanks to a life-changing opportunity, Anda and Xoliswa will get to grow their dreams! Now, Anda will be able to hire more people with disabilities while Xoliswa will get to create more jobs through the love of coffee.
Cape Town, South Africa (27 November 2024) — Anda Mthulu and Xoliswa Tyeya are both entrepreneurs and dreamers who recently caught a big break that will see their businesses and dreams grow.
Both have been selected as this year’s Board Development Fund recipients—an opportunity that will support their deserving businesses through funding and mentorship and something Cape Town Tourism shares it is proud to empower them with.
Anda runs a local business known as MSI ShoeShine and Services. For eight years, the business has provided shoe cleaning, leather rehabilitation and hotel gift shop management all while championing inclusivity by employing people with disabilities.
Anda has a disability himself. So, when the BDF news came his way, he knew the first point of call would be to expand the businesses’ inclusivity by hiring more people with disabilities and those from underserved areas as well as extend its reach into more hotels and shopping centres.
“I see my business grow. I see my business expanding. This funding means a lot to me personally. We are now able to train and then employ more people with disabilities from disadvantaged communities,” Anda shares.
As for Xoliswa’s business, Imbizo African Coffee Co; the business-boost will also help Xoliswa create more jobs for other.
You might have visited the coffee bar on Long Street or tasted their goodness at different retailers. Either way, once you’ve tasted the brew, you know it’s not your regular cuppa! Known for excellent coffee, Imbizo African Coffee Co’s secret lies in the premium beans they source across Africa from small-scale Fair-Trade farmers. This way, the business not only promotes inter-continental trading, but also proudly African products.
Shares Xoliswa on being awarded the BDF support:
“This support is a game-changer for us! With the new equipment we will purchase, we will increase productivity, improve efficiency, and secure more retail partnerships. It’s an incredible opportunity for growth, expansion, and creating new jobs.”
About the BDF Fund:
Since its inception in 2013, the Board Development Fund (BDF) has played an important role in providing strategic support to dozens of small, medium and micro enterprises. This support helps them grow and innovate in ways all important to the local economy.
“The Board Development Fund is a testament to what can be achieved when we invest in local talent,” says Tracy Mkhize, Chairperson of Cape Town Tourism’s Board. “Imbizo Coffee Co and MSI ShoeShine and Services are not just businesses—they’re examples of how entrepreneurship drives inclusivity, creates jobs, and contributes to our shared economic future. We are honoured to support their journeys.”
Both Anda and Xoliswa will participate in a 12-month progress-monitored mentorship programme with funding paid in quarterly tranches after the approval by mentors and other authority figures.
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