Thembi Dlamini: Breaking financial barriers for township businesses

Growing up in a community where ambition didn't always come with opportunity shaped Thembi Dlamini's determination to succeed. Today, the woman who was raised in Naturena, south of Johannesburg, is helping township businesses overcome financial barriers that make it difficult for them to grow.

With more than 15 years of experience across financial services, marketing and business development, Dlamini has built a career in industries where women have often had to fight for recognition.

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

Her journey began in a household where her parents encouraged hard work and refused to let their circumstances limit their children's ambitions.

"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 facing people trying to establish businesses.

Dlamini said those experiences influenced her ambitions and her interest in creating opportunities for others.

After studying Marketing Communication and obtaining an Honours qualification in Brand Leadership, she 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.

But building her career in traditionally male-dominated industries came with its own difficulties.

Dlamini said women were sometimes 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 believes confidence and preparation have been important in navigating 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.

At Shop2Shop, her responsibilities include developing partnerships between established suppliers and informal traders.

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

Some traders must travel repeatedly to purchase stock, losing valuable trading hours while paying additional transport costs.

These expenses can eventually affect the prices customers pay for basic goods.

Dlamini said cash-based transactions created another obstacle, particularly for businesses seeking financing or better purchasing arrangements.

"One of the greatest challenges in a cash-dominated economy is that commercially viable businesses can remain financially invisible," she said.

She explained that some shop owners generated consistent income but lacked the financial records needed to demonstrate their performance to lenders and suppliers.

Without reliable records, traders can struggle to negotiate favourable terms, access working capital or expand their businesses.

Dlamini believes digital transactions can help address some of these challenges, although she acknowledged that transaction records alone do not guarantee access to financing.

One experience involving a township trader reinforced her understanding of the financial difficulties facing small businesses.

She recalled a trader who was unable to pay for a stock delivery because he did not have sufficient funds available.

The supplier would ordinarily have returned with the goods, leaving the trader without stock to sell.

However, after checking his Shop2Shop application, the trader discovered that a stock advance was available and used it to complete the purchase.

Dlamini said the incident showed how access to funds at the right time could prevent a business from losing valuable trading opportunities.

Her own professional journey has also been shaped by people who recognised her potential and helped her develop her skills.

She credits Lloyd Ball with teaching 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 understand the informal economy and the financial relationships between traders and suppliers.

Dlamini said one of her proudest achievements was developing a framework that helped the company better understand its merchant network and identify opportunities for supplier partnerships.

Now pursuing an MBA, she hopes to continue advancing her career while supporting greater participation in the informal economy.

She also wants young women entering business and technology to pursue opportunities even when they do not see people like themselves in leadership positions.

"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."