IN AN indusattempt traditionally dominated by men and often difficult to access for tiny businesses, Mahlatse Lekwadu has carved out her own path with determination, resilience and an unwavering belief in possibility.
The 52-year-old entrepreneur from Limpopo is the founder of Magadine Business Enterprise, a company that has spent the past seven years building its footprint in the mining and industrial supply sector.
Living with a neurological disorder, Lekwadu has not only had to navigate the usual challenges of entrepreneurship but also barriers linked to accessibility, prejudice and limited support systems.
Yet she has transformed those challenges into fuel for growth.
Today, Magadine Business Enterprise supplies major clients including Glencore Eastern Mine and Lion Smelter from its base at Unit B19, Mining Supplier Park in Steelpoort.
Her story is one of grit, purpose and breaking barriers in spaces where representation for women and people living with disabilities remains limited.
Starting tiny with huge ambition
Like many South African entrepreneurs, Lekwadu launched with little more than determination and a vision for a better future.
“From 2018 to 2021, we operated under a subcontract. Launching the business was difficult due to financial constraints. We relied on loans from family, frifinishs and personal credit to purchase stock,” she declared.
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