A Pretoria based majority black owned and woman run furniture manufacturing factory will now be able to expand its operations and acquire state of the art machinery courtesy of a R2.7 million investment from the National Empowerment Fund (NEF).
Founded in 2019 by Dipuo Phakathi, the company Denic Cabinets manufactures bespoke kitchens, built-in cupboards and premium cabinetry for residential and commercial markets. Since its establishment, it has created jobs for young artisans and women while gradually expanding its client base.
The NEF investment is aimed at supporting the company’s expansion by acquiring advanced machinery, increasing production and establishing the new Pretoria showroom to reach more customers and compete for larger commercial contracts.
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The funding was used to acquire advanced machinery, increasing production from four kitchens per month to seven, reducing bottlenecks and improving turnaround times.
NEF Chief Executive Officer Mziwabantu Dayimani said Denic Cabinets represents the kind of industrial capacity South Africa needs to build an inclusive economy.
“South Africa is in a moment where the purpose of B-BBEE is being challenged. But when you walk into this showroom, meet this entrepreneur, visit her factory and see her staff at work, the answer becomes clear. This is the evidence. This is transformation made real,” Dayimani said.
Dayimani added that the company’s growth demonstrates how targeted empowerment finance stimulates job creation and strengthens local value chains.
“When entrepreneurs like Dipuo [Phakathi] grow, the entire value chain grows from suppliers to artisans to communities. This is the multiplier effect of empowerment finance,” he said.
Phakathi described the showroom opening as a milestone reflecting both the company’s progress and the value of development finance.
“Opening this showroom is more than a business milestone, it is a statement of possibility,” Phakathi said. “When I started Denic Cabinets in 2019 with a small team and a big dream, I knew that black women could lead in manufacturing, design and high-end cabinetry. Today, standing in this space, I see proof that excellence has no gender and no limits.”
“What the NEF has done for us is not charity, it is partnership. Their funding unlocked machinery, skills and the confidence to scale. It allowed us to compete, to innovate, and to show South Africa that when black entrepreneurs are backed with real investment, we rise,” she said.
Dayimani noted that across the country, thousands of enterprises in sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, ICT and mining services have been developed through empowerment programmes and funding support.
He added that the NEF has so far approved about R14.1 billion in funding for black entrepreneurs, supported over 1 600 transactions and created or sustained more than 143 000 jobs, while focusing on strategic industries that promote re-industrialisation and inclusive growth.
Denic Cabinets has achieved several milestones, including being the first black woman-owned business in the Kitchen and Bathroom category to exhibit at Decorex Africa, gaining international recognition at the AFAWA Africa Investment Forum in Morocco, and being honoured on International Women’s Day for industry leadership. The company has also created sustainable employment and skills opportunities for young artisans and women.
“BEE is not a favour, it is an economic growth strategy. It unlocks industrial capability, expands ownership and strengthens local value chains,” Dayimani said.
olga@vutivibusiness.co.za
