Business of empowerment
[caption id="attachment_38521" align="alignright" width="405"] PROUDLY EC: Born and bred in the Eastern Cape, Xoliswa Daku is the chief executive of DCI Holdings, one of the most successful property development, facilities management and construction specialist companies in the country[/caption]
THE Eastern Cape is just one of those places where strong leaders are born – and DCI Holdings chief executive Xoliswa Daku is no exception. In just over 10 years this businesswoman, who was born and grew up in Uitenhage, has started up what today is regarded as one of the most successful property development, construction and facilities management companies in the country.
DCI Holdings, headquartered in Cape Town with offices in East London and Johannesburg, has been involved in some massive Western Cape projects, such as The Table Bay Boulevard and Koeberg Interchange as project managers as well as the construction of an infrastructure depot and lighthouse at Saldanha Bay.
DCI Holdings has also been involved in various refurbishment and small town revitalisation projects in Mthatha, Engcobo and Cradock.
"I am a proud Uitenhage product, I was born and raised there. I visit the Eastern Cape all the time – my whole family is there," Daku said.
Before starting her own business, Daku practiced as a lawyer, and later joined the Western Cape Investment and Trade Promotions Agency (Wesgro) as head of investments.
"The culture of empowering women was instilled in me when I worked for Wesgro.
"One of the areas of my work focused on SMME development. I then, through my research and work, realised that women's participation in business was quite low and therefore I continue to feel strongly about imparting my skills on other up-and- coming women in business," Daku said.
Her passion for infrastructure development and investments inspired her to start her own company DCI Holdings in 2003, which is based on the needs of investors and opportunities in this sector.
The number of employed people at the company, depends on the projects DCI works on.
Daku said her husband, Fezile Calana, and mother, Mantombazana Ngaphi, have been a strong support system for her during the past decade of growing the business. "They have been my pillars of success," Daku, who is mother to Uyanda, 7, and Landa, 5, said.
"With the combination of services in property and construction, our company's vision is to build a sustainable multi-billion rand business within the infrastructure development sector, with a strong property portfolio and assets," Daku said.
She is head of the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) Women in Construction Programme – focused on training women in technical and business skills. She is also a member of the Western Cape Economic Development Partnership (EDP), board member of the Anglican board of trustees and a member of the Western Cape Black Business Council. - Cindy Preller
