BY MBONO MDLULI
BUHLENI – Entrepreneurship is a risky but potentially rewarding endeavor, and no one embodies this better than Sizabantu Motor Spare’s founder Sandile Maziya.
Sizabantu Motor Spares, situated in Buhleni at Thandanani Complex, was started by Maziya in 2015. The business has succeeded because Maziya discovered and made the right moves along the way.
“Before Buhleni was officially declared a town, I observed that there was also an exponential growth of public service vehicles including kombis, especially the Toyota Quantums and taxis. We did not have even a single automotive parts retailer within the town and that is how Sizabantu Motor Spares was born at Buhleni,” Maziya said.
He added: “I knew that at some point, all these vehicles will need new parts to be serviced and car tires and batteries.”
Maziya also owns Sizabantu Electrical and Plumbing. He wanted to expand his motor spares business after the effects of COVID-19 began to subside. “I had already extended the infrastructure. All I needed was to boost my stock levels and FINCORP was the best option out of all the financial institutions. So, in December 2021, I had my loan application approved by FINCORP. I was able to boost the stock levels to support the expansion of my business,” he said.
In last year’s edition of the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (EYA), Sizabantu Motor Spares was crowned the Hhohho Region EYA 2023 winner. “I owe this accolade to the financial support I received from FINCORP. Even though I won previously, it was my first time to clinch the regional award. I don’t think I would have achieved this if I did not get the financial support from FINCORP,” he said.
Maziya has created five employment opportunities from both his businesses; Sizabantu Motor Spares and Sizabantu Electrical and Plumbing. “I do not have enough words to thank FINCORP for trusting me with the loan. This has enabled me to contribute towards job creation and poverty alleviation,” Maziya said.
He plans to open another outlet in Mhlume. “This will enable me to create additional job opportunities and continue contributing towards the country’s job creation and poverty alleviation efforts,” he said.
