Dinah Setati has always had a good head for business. She paid her own school fees by providing a hairdressing service to local community members and, after working in retail for a while after matriculating, decided to pursue her true calling. Dinah founded Deelera Water Supply and Projects in Mamelodi township in Tshwane, Gauteng in January 2021 after identifying a promising reselling opportunity.
Dinah was very excited about the prospect of finally running her own business. She shares: “I was incomplete without something of my own. When the chance to be a reseller arose, I grabbed it, eager to thrive independently.”
Despite her enthusiasm and determination, Dinah did encounter a few challenges in her reseller journey. She had to gain the trust of the community and work hard at setting herself apart from the competition. “It wasn’t without challenges,” she admits “But everything I learned from these challenges is invaluable.”
One of Dinah’s biggest milestones was producing her own branded water. Clients love seeing their own branding on the bottles of water and word about this innovative service she was offering spread quickly. Dinah’s overall vision for her business extends further, however. She wants to establish refill stations that will enable businesses and individuals to refill their water bottles instead of purchasing a new bottle every time. These refill stations will not only benefit her clients by saving them money but also the environment by reducing the use of plastic bottles.
The Nedbank-funded Ranyaka Building Business programme continues to play an important part in Dinah’s journey. She credits it for not only making her a better business owner, but a more well-rounded individual as well. The entrepreneurial skills she has acquired help her in the day-to-day running of her business and give her the confidence to dream big. “Through the programme, I learned and acquired resources crucial for cost-cutting in my business,” she notes, reflecting on her time as a programme participant.
Securing contracts to supply two organisations and several local vendors with bottled water remains a big achievement for Dinah. “It was a significant milestone,” she says, happy about the recognition and support her business has received.
Sharing advice, Dinah highlights the importance of separating personal life from business. She advises you to find a balance between the two and to not allow either to consume you. Dinah advises new entrepreneurs to do thorough research and ensure they have enough money before starting a business. She finds motivation in working independently and achieving her own goals. The joy of pushing herself and reaching milestones keeps her enthusiastic about the journey ahead.
Deelera Water Supply and Projects, led by Dinah, embodies resilience, learning from challenges, and looking ahead to the future. With determination and the knowledge gained from her experiences, Dinah continues her inspiring journey, aiming for bigger achievements and making a positive impact on society through her business.
Mamelodi is one of 31 communities in 8 provinces across South Africa where Ranyaka is implementing the Nedbank Proud of my Town programme. Building Business is one of 10 programmes that forms part of the Ranyaka and PoMT framework.
Images by Lizelle Lötter Photography