Zanele Stole

What does your company do?

The company provides comprehensive Cleaning and Hygiene services and Pest Control for Corporates, Office Parks, Retail Shopping Centres, Parkades, Car Dealerships, Restaurants and Government Institutions.

What is your biggest success?

Immaculate Cleaning and Hygiene Services launched a graduate initiative programme ( Internship) called IGNITE which provides essential skills and training to the youth between the ages of 19years - 29years. The aim of this programme is to ensure that the youth is employable, equipped for the job market and positively contributes skills to the Immaculate Cleaning and Hygiene Services Team. This will foster confidence in the Youth, encourage them to pursue further learning, employment and entrepreneurial initiatives. Our business is growing, therefore we have capacity to train more Youth as they provide support to meet our additional growing resourcing requirements. We have also partnered with Bright Future School ( A special needs school ) - we are sponsoring two learners’ education until graduation, the company also aims to provide employment opportunities for the sponsored students with special needs, equipping them with skills for the workforce. Notable achievements include being a finalist at the 2020 Standard Bank Top Women Awards in the “Top Woman Award” and “Fast Growth SMME Award” categories, and being recognized as a young achiever finalist at the 2021 Top Empowerment Virtual Summit and Awards. Immaculate Cleaning and Hygiene Services won the 2020 Eskom Business Investment Competition in the “Trade & Services” category and was featured on “Beyond the Headline” with Aldrin Sampear on SA FM. Zanele’s company was also honored with South Africa’s Next Icon Award in 2023 by Icon SA/Icon Women’s Alliance, nominated in the Professional Services Category at the Forty under Forty Awards and nominated in the Entrepreneur of the Year Category at the Sebenza Women Awards which are Durban Based awards.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

No structured cash flow management, leading to periods of financial strain. Delayed payments from corporate clients, causing working capital shortages. Limited quality control measures—no formal system to monitor staff, No automated scheduling or service tracking system, which results in delays and inefficiencies.