How Thembi Dlamini is helping township traders access finance

From growing up in Naturena, south of Johannesburg, to helping township traders navigate the financial challenges that limit their growth, Thembi Dlamini is using her experience in financial services and business development to strengthen connections between suppliers and informal businesses.

As Head of Supplier Management at Shop2Shop, Dlamini works with major suppliers and informal retailers, including spaza shops and township wholesalers, to improve business relationships and access to financial services.

With more than 15 years of experience across financial services, marketing and business development, she has built a career in industries where women have often had to work harder to establish their credibility.

Her focus now extends beyond her own career to the challenges facing township businesses, where rising operating costs and cash-based transactions can make it harder for traders to remain competitive and access financing.

Dlamini said her upbringing played an important role in shaping her ambitions. Her parents encouraged her and her sister to pursue opportunities despite the limitations of their circumstances.

"My parents made tremendous sacrifices to give my sister and me opportunities to reach our full potential, teaching us never to allow our circumstances to define our possibilities," she said.

Growing up in Johannesburg also exposed her to inequalities between communities and the difficulties faced by people trying to establish businesses.

After studying Marketing Communication and obtaining an Honours qualification in Brand Leadership, Dlamini worked in engineering, rural development, employee benefits and financial services before moving into fintech.

Joining Shop2Shop five years ago introduced her to the challenges facing South Africa's informal economy and the relationships between traders, suppliers and financial service providers.

Dlamini said rising transport, electricity and stock procurement costs were placing increasing pressure on township businesses operating on narrow profit margins.

Some traders have to make repeated trips to purchase stock, losing valuable trading hours while incurring additional transport expenses.

These costs can affect the prices customers ultimately pay for basic goods.

Cash-based transactions present another challenge, she said, particularly for businesses seeking financing or more favourable purchasing arrangements.

Through her role at Shop2Shop, Dlamini works to develop partnerships between established suppliers and informal traders, helping improve commercial relationships across the merchant network.

One of her proudest achievements has been developing a framework that helped the company better understand its merchant network and identify opportunities for supplier partnerships.

Dlamini said building her career in traditionally male-dominated industries came with challenges, including situations in which women were expected to repeatedly demonstrate their competence before being taken seriously.

"Earlier in my career, I focused on proving myself; today, I focus on delivering impact," she said.

She credits confidence and preparation with helping her navigate leadership positions, particularly in environments where women remain underrepresented.

"Never dim your light to make others comfortable. Earn your place through substance but never apologise for occupying it," she added.

Dlamini also credits several people with helping shape her professional development.

She said Lloyd Ball taught her how to approach commercial negotiations, while the late Sandy Mohonathan influenced her understanding of leadership.

Dahir Abdow, whom she met at Shop2Shop, helped her better understand the informal economy and the financial relationships between traders and suppliers.

Dlamini is pursuing an MBA as she looks to advance her career and support greater participation in the informal economy.

She also wants young women entering business and technology to pursue opportunities, even when leadership positions do not reflect people with backgrounds similar to their own.

"Never allow the absence of someone who looks like you in a room to convince you that you don't belong there. Sometimes you're meant to be the person who opens the door for those who follow."