{"id":40818,"date":"2026-08-31T12:07:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T10:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=40818"},"modified":"2026-08-31T12:07:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T10:07:27","slug":"women-owned-businesses-in-gauteng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/women-owned-businesses-in-gauteng\/","title":{"rendered":"Women-Owned Businesses Making Gauteng a Safer, Better Place to Go Out"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Women are not just finding their way around Gauteng. <strong>They are building it.<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"gaute-3297193254\" class=\"gaute-after-paragraph-1 gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every day, women across the province are opening businesses, creating jobs, leading teams, running tourism experiences and finding new ways to make everyday life better. From a women-only ride service in Johannesburg to a pioneering Soweto tour company, a women-led manufacturing business in Tshwane and a major security company headed by a woman, these stories show another side of Gauteng\u2019s Women\u2019s Month conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a story about <strong>women creating opportunities, opening doors and shaping the places and services that people use every day.<\/strong> This Women\u2019s Month, What\u2019s On G\u2019s <strong>Her City. Her Rules.<\/strong> campaign celebrates some of the women helping to build that future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Women Building Their Own Spaces in Gauteng<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gauteng\u2019s women entrepreneurs are working across industries that touch almost every part of life - from transport and tourism to manufacturing and security. Some are creating businesses in response to problems they have personally experienced, while others are building careers and companies in industries where women have traditionally been underrepresented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Together, their stories show what happens when women are not only participating in Gauteng\u2019s economy, but <strong>leading it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>DriveHer: Putting Women Behind the Wheel<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Founder: Lumka Oliphant<\/strong><br><strong>Location: Johannesburg<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For women looking for another way to move around Johannesburg, DriveHer offers a distinctly different approach to ride services. Founded by <strong>Lumka Oliphant in 2026<\/strong>, the women-only shuttle service was created around the idea of giving women another option when travelling around the city, particularly for airport transfers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The service uses female drivers, with riders and drivers verified using South African ID numbers. Bookings are made through WhatsApp and followed up with a phone call. Oliphant, a former Department of Social Development spokesperson, launched DriveHer after identifying concerns women had about existing e-hailing services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The focus on airport transfers also gives the business a clear place within Gauteng\u2019s growing tourism and transport landscape. For women interested in navigating Gauteng independently, it is another example of a service designed with the realities of female travellers in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cisp.cachefly.net\/assets\/articles\/images\/resized\/0001223230_resized_lumkaoliphant140920251022.jpeg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cisp.cachefly.net\/assets\/articles\/images\/resized\/0001223230_resized_lumkaoliphant140920251022.jpeg\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/cisp.cachefly.net\/assets\/articles\/images\/resized\/0001223230_resized_lumkaoliphant140920251022.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Polity.org.za<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more practical advice, read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/rideshare-safety-south-africa-women\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/rideshare-safety-south-africa-women\/\">Rideshare Safety in Gauteng: What Every Woman Should Know Before Getting In<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2728603356\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Imbizo Tours: Showing Visitors Another Side of Soweto<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Founder: Mandy Mankazana<\/strong><br><strong>Location: Soweto, Johannesburg<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of Gauteng\u2019s most powerful tourism experiences are rooted in the people who know its communities best. <strong>Mandy Mankazana<\/strong>, born in Rockville, Soweto, founded Imbizo Tours in 1994 and went on to build one of the township\u2019s pioneering tour companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, Imbizo offers Soweto and Alexandra township tours alongside Johannesburg city tours, cultural experiences and heritage trips. Visitors can also experience tours supported by multilingual guides speaking languages including German, Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the company\u2019s story extends beyond sightseeing. Imbizo has trained and employed local guides while supporting local restaurants and B&amp;Bs. The company has also supported students and played a role in establishing a school in Kliptown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For visitors, that means a tour can become more than simply ticking a landmark off a travel list. It can become an opportunity to understand the people, stories and communities behind the destination. For women travelling through Gauteng, particularly those exploring areas they may not know well, having access to established local tourism experiences can also make discovering the province feel more accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imbizotours.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/logo-glow-1.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:444px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imbizotours.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/logo-glow-1.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Imbizo tours<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking for more ideas? Read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/solo-travel-gauteng-women\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/solo-travel-gauteng-women\/\">Solo Travel in Gauteng: A Woman\u2019s Guide to Exploring the Province<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Lindiwe Sanitary Pads: Building Opportunity in Tshwane<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Founder and CEO: Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa<\/strong><br><strong>Location: Centurion, Tshwane<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes creating a better Gauteng starts with something as fundamental as creating jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Lindiwe Nkuna-Kgopa<\/strong> founded Lindiwe Sanitary Pads in 2018 after identifying an opportunity for a South African women-owned manufacturer in the sanitary products industry. The business now operates from a <strong>4,000m\u00b2 plant in Centurion<\/strong>, producing SABS-compliant sanitary pads and supplying the government\u2019s National Sanitary Dignity Programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company is also providing employment opportunities, with a workforce of approximately <strong>90 women<\/strong>. In July 2026, Nkuna-Kgopa was recognised with the <strong>Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award<\/strong>, adding another milestone to her entrepreneurial journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her story represents a different part of what it means to make Gauteng a better place. It is not always about creating a new destination or a new way to go out. Sometimes it is about creating the economic opportunities that allow more women to participate fully in everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A factory in Centurion becomes more than a workplace. It becomes a space where women earn, build skills and contribute to the province\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/iol-prod.appspot.com\/image\/3348256731e56210f48e2c478422609c710fd528=w700\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/iol-prod.appspot.com\/image\/3348256731e56210f48e2c478422609c710fd528=w700\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/iol-prod.appspot.com\/image\/3348256731e56210f48e2c478422609c710fd528=w700\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Business Report<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2728603356\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Brenda Reddy: Leading From the Top in Security<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chief Executive: Brenda Reddy<\/strong><br><strong>Location: Gauteng<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Security is part of the infrastructure behind many of the places Gauteng residents visit every day - from shopping centres and commercial spaces to major businesses and public-facing environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At <strong>Imvula Quality Protection<\/strong>, Brenda Reddy has been leading the company since 2017. The company operates nationally, employing more than <strong>8,500 people<\/strong> across all nine provinces. It also operates 24-hour control rooms, regional offices and accredited training academies from its Gauteng base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reddy\u2019s position is significant in an industry where women remain underrepresented in senior leadership. Her story is therefore about more than the security industry itself. It is about what happens when women occupy leadership positions in sectors that influence the way South Africans move through and experience public spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the security personnel at a shopping centre entrance to the teams working behind the scenes, these services form part of the everyday infrastructure of going out. And having women leading within those industries matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/v2\/D4D22AQED5r-BT3U8IA\/feedshare-shrink_800\/B4DZ9kXU0kKsAk-\/0\/1784095265399?e=2147483647&amp;v=beta&amp;t=uPZAOGXvPLs5Fpm2q5pUG20vay8lbHRJbV8R39ubwzU\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:645px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/v2\/D4D22AQED5r-BT3U8IA\/feedshare-shrink_800\/B4DZ9kXU0kKsAk-\/0\/1784095265399?e=2147483647&amp;v=beta&amp;t=uPZAOGXvPLs5Fpm2q5pUG20vay8lbHRJbV8R39ubwzU\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/media.licdn.com\/dms\/image\/v2\/D4D22AQED5r-BT3U8IA\/feedshare-shrink_800\/B4DZ9kXU0kKsAk-\/0\/1784095265399?e=2147483647&amp;v=beta&amp;t=uPZAOGXvPLs5Fpm2q5pUG20vay8lbHRJbV8R39ubwzU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Supporting the Women Building Gauteng<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Women\u2019s economic participation is an important part of the province\u2019s growth. When you choose a local women-owned business, book a tour run by a woman entrepreneur or support a company creating opportunities for other women, you are contributing to a wider ecosystem of businesses and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That support can help local businesses grow, create employment and keep more economic activity within Gauteng. It also gives women the opportunity to see themselves differently - not only as customers and visitors, but as <strong>founders, employers, leaders and creators.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that is worth celebrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Her City. Her Rules.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gauteng belongs to the women who live here, work here, build here and dream here. It is the woman putting another female driver behind the wheel, the entrepreneur showing visitors the history and culture of her community, the founder creating jobs for women on a factory floor, and the executive leading a major company in an industry where women have historically had less visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their businesses may look completely different, but their stories have something in common: <strong>they are creating their own space.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This Women\u2019s Month, don\u2019t just look for places to visit. Look at the women behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Book the tour. Support the business. Take the ride. Share the story.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because a better Gauteng is also built by the women who choose to create it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Her City. Her Rules.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Women\u2019s Month 2026 belongs to the builders. Meet four women-owned and<br \/>\nwomen-led Gauteng businesses shaping how the province moves, hosts and hires, from Johannesburg<br \/>\nto Tshwane.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":40866,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"Business","rank_math_title":"Women-Owned Businesses in Gauteng Making Nights Out Better","rank_math_description":"Meet the women-owned businesses shaping Gauteng through transport, tourism, manufacturing and security this Women\u2019s Month.","footnotes":""},"categories":[73,53],"tags":[11819,11821,11792,11822,11820,11818,11731],"ppma_author":[11713],"class_list":["post-40818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lifestyle","category-visit-gauteng","tag-female-entrepreneurs","tag-gauteng-businesses","tag-her-city-her-rules","tag-support-local","tag-women-led-businesses","tag-women-owned-businesses-gauteng","tag-womens-month-2026"],"authors":[{"term_id":11713,"user_id":27,"is_guest":0,"slug":"mbali-mamabolo","display_name":"Mbali Mamabolo","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0ad5b746650c244eedf12eb03b43b0389b6f32f1bcd3cc40bb7ad762d98f3f86?s=96&r=g","author_category":"1","first_name":"Mbali","last_name":"Mamabolo","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40818"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40818\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40912,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40818\/revisions\/40912"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40818"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=40818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}