Unlocking Potential: From Kayamandi to SoHo
Much of our work at the Cape Chamber happens without fanfare, and behind-the-scenes. We support our members directly with networking, training programmes and other benefits, and indirectly through our work in promoting improvements to the overall business environment.
A good example of direct member engagement is Luxolo Cakata from Kayamandi who founded his own fashion label.
Luxolo is a firm believer in making the most of his Chamber membership. He attends Chamber events whenever possible, both in his Chapter area and beyond. He mingled with guests at the Innovation Awards, and last month caught a taxi all the way from Stellenbosch to Tokai to participate in a business 'matchmaking' exercise at the Norval Foundation.
It comes as no surprise that Luxolo is now getting the attention he deserves. After featuring in the Chamber's weekly newsletter earlier this year, his story was picked up by multiple local media outlets. He was also contacted by Flying Solo in the US, a prominent fashion retail concept store and incubator based in SoHo, Manhattan. They have invited him to exhibit in New York.
With sponsorship support, Luxolo now hopes to take that next big step. Read his story HERE.
Of course there are business triumphs within our network, although I doubt many could match Luxolo's unique journey -- he started out modeling his own clothes and is a double winner of the Mr Kayamandi pageant.
What makes his story particularly appealing is that his small business has overcome multiple constraints, and he is now looking to expand his team. He is one example of an enterprise that, with enough support to open doors to new opportunities, could help drive the job creation our economy so desperately needs.
Luxolo was still working in a Stellenbosch restaurant when he purchased his first two machines. His perseverance has now paid off; two months ago he received a heat press and vinyl cutter from the Cape Winelands Municipality. From False Bay College's Centre For Entrepreneurs he received an industrial sewing machine, an industrial lockstitch machine, another vinyl cutter, another heat presser, and a printer.
We celebrate his success as we celebrate every success of a member actively growing their business.
An example of how we work indirectly is to help improve the business environments for businesses, large and small to make it easier to succeed and grow. There are many unique stories to be told.
But realising this potential requires moving beyond policy rhetoric to address the ground-level reality of running a business. This is where empirical data becomes vital. The Cape Chamber's Business Environment Survey directly bridges this gap by identifying the precise constraints that choke business expansion.
By systematically mapping operational hurdles—ranging from localised precinct issues like traffic congestion and digital connectivity gaps to broader regulatory burdens—the survey pinpoints where the business environment fails small enterprises, equipping stakeholders with the clear evidence needed to push for targeted, high-impact interventions.
We mobilise the best thinkers to address the most import impediments to business growth, and invite you to also get involved in our activities, to help shape a better future for business and society.
John Lawson, CEO of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry