Entrepreneuer Focus - Sylvia Khabele

1. Tell us about yourself?

My name is Tiisetso Sylvia Khabele. I am a farmer and landscaper – born from my growing passion for permaculture & horticulture. For me, permaculture offers a revolutionary approach to food security as it integrates ecology, landscaping, organic gardening, architecture and agro-forestry to create a rich and sustainable way of living.  Prior to landscaping and vegetable farming, my educational and professional experience was in Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs). In order to be competent in my horticulture career path, with respect to training, I have undergone an Agri-SETA accredited courses in Vegetable Production and another Agri-SETA accredited learnership in Landscaping, as well as attending short training sessions in other agri-preneur courses in hydroponics, etc.

2. What is the name of your business?

Prim & Proper Landscaping. It’s a subsidiary of Crop Culture (Pty) Ltd, which is a BBBEE Level 1 company, founded in 2017.

The word play ‘culture’ in Crop Culture implies a lifestyle adoption where crops (plants) permeate seamlessly across terrains and environments where we work, live and play – in public spaces & parks, tourist hotspots, residential and office complexes, etc.

3. What services do you offer?

We provide professional and affordable, full-service landscaping and gardening services for corporate and residential customers, with the objective of taming and beautifying the ‘urban jungle’. This includes landscape maintenance, garden clean-ups, instant lawn and lawn care, providing seedlings and indigenous plants, indoor plants and flower arrangements, green / living walls, water features and tree felling.

4. What drives and motivates you in business?

Working with plants (horticulture) as a healing way to express my personal vision as an entrepreneur of actively contributing towards promoting good health & nutrition, enhancing women empowerment and economic emancipation and independence to redress social inequalities.

5. What sets you apart from other entrepreneurs in your line of work?

We care about customer’s working and living spaces and respect their wishes.

Dedication and focus to continually improve in my work by partnering and learning from others, and my work ethic and commitment to delivering customer satisfaction of a positive horticulture experience.

6. How can people find you?

Number: +27 (0) 84 014 9139

Email: info@pnplandscaping.co.za

Website: https://pnplandscaping.co.za

Social media handles:  https://www.facebook.com/primandproperlandscaping and https://www.linkedin.com/company/pnplandscaping

7. Where are you based? Where do you operate?

Based at Riversands Incubation Hub, 8 Incubation Drive, Riverside Ext 15, Midrand.

We operate across Gauteng.

8. Do you have a quote that you live by?

Philippians 4:13

‘I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.’

9. Do you have any challenges in your line of work? How do you work around that? How do you overcome?

Translating my vision and dreams from inception to reality. This included finding the right team to work with, as the latter can make or break a business. I have overcome them by division of labour through staff delegation, and also seeking professional advice from SMME consultants & mentors, joining professional networks / bodies, and investing resources in relevant short courses and seminars to boost my knowledge and competence. Specifically, for the landscaping division, Riversands Incubation Hub has played and is playing a big role in terms of entrepreneurial support, as well as ensuring that my business is compliant.

10. Which clients would you like to work with or would be your dream client?

Contract / ongoing long-term business with Government, Corporate and Residential customers – at office blocks, town-houses / residential complexes, stand-alone properties, schools / institutions of learning, public parks, etc.