When Fatima Davids arrived in Cape Town in 2017, she had just R14 in her pocket. What she lacked in resources, she made up for with determination, resilience and an unwavering belief that she could build a better future.
The move followed a difficult chapter in her life. After a divorce, Fatima was looking for a fresh start while growing a small online business supplying cleaning chemicals. Although she spent her entire life in Johannesburg, most of her customers were based in Cape Town. When a fellow church member offered her a place to stay, she took a leap of faith and relocated.
Starting over was far from easy. With little money and no transport, Fatima walked from one government department and corporate office to another, introducing her cleaning and office-supply services in person. She believed her greatest strength was her ability to build trust face to face.
“My business advisor once told me I have a face you can’t say no to,” she says.
That ability to connect with people became the foundation of her entrepreneurial journey. Determined to succeed, she persuaded a local builder to drive her to meetings in exchange for helping with administration. When she secured her first stationery supply contract, she relied on suppliers and contacts within her network for assistance to help finance the order so she could deliver successfully and build credibility with her new client.
Her networking skills continued to open doors. A local business owner offered her a corner of a workshop in Parow from which to operate. When the business later relocated, Fatima negotiated directly with the landlord and took over the lease herself, giving Corp Chem a permanent base and a platform for future growth.
Rather than drawing profits from the business, she reinvested every rand back into the business. Initially focused on reselling cleaning products, Fatima dreamed of manufacturing her own. One machine at a time, she expanded the company’s capabilities, acquiring mixers, filters, packaging and labelling equipment. Gradually, Corp Chem evolved from a small trading operation into a manufacturer producing cleaning detergents from raw materials.
Entrepreneurship was not new to Fatima. After leaving school, she worked as a personal assistant in Johannesburg while pursuing ventures in catering, garment manufacturing and heavy construction equipment trading. Although each business taught valuable lessons and experience, none inspired her as much as the cleaning chemicals industry, where she found fulfilment in product development, brand building and sustainable growth.
Operating from a modest 250 m² workshop and shopfront in Parow, she launched her own detergent brand, Joy. The products gained traction among both walk-in customers and commercial clients, helping establish the company as a trusted name in the cleaning products market.
A major turning point came during the Covid-19 pandemic. As demand for sanitisers, cleaning products and personal protective equipment surged, Corp Chem was well-positioned to meet the surge in demand. Strong relationships with government departments and corporate clients enabled the business to benefit from increased demand, accelerating growth and expanding its customer base.
Despite its progress, access to finance remained a challenge. Fatima identified a significant growth opportunity in toilet paper manufacturing, particularly among government and corporate customers purchasing in bulk. However, the required machinery represented a substantial investment, presenting the next hurdle in the company’s growth journey.
Her breakthrough came through a connection with Business Partners Limited and the Basadi-Women Growth Fund, which supports women-owned businesses looking to scale. Through the Fund, Corp Chem secured funding for a R700,000 toilet paper manufacturing machine and R300,000 in working capital, providing the resources needed to expand its operations.
Today, Fatima leads a team of six employees and oversees an operation capable of producing up to 50,000 toilet rolls a day. She plans to introduce environmentally friendly toilet paper while expanding sales among local shoppers, independent retailers and, eventually, major retail chains.
From arriving in Cape Town with only R14 to building a thriving manufacturing business, Fatima’s story is a powerful example of resilience, resourcefulness and determination.
“The vision is big,” she says. Based on the obstacles she has overcome and the progress she has achieved, it is a vision that appears firmly within reach.
About the Author: BPL Admin
