Businesswoman launches foundation to empower young entrepreneurs

AS THE world celebrates International Women’s month in March, and reflects on the progress and challenges faced by women, Connie Matlejoane, CEO of CRM Enterprise and a respected business leader in her community, has introduced the Leruo Foundation.

- ASHLEY LECHMAN

The Leruo Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs, young business leaders and aspiring experts in South Africa.

It seeks to break down barriers, provide mentorship, and create tangible opportunities to fuel the next generation of business success stories, with a specific focus on support for community-based entrepreneurs.

Despite the growing influence of women in business, South African female entrepreneurs continue to face systemic challenges, particularly in securing capital resources. As reported that while only 38% of SMEs in the country are women-led, female entrepreneurship is rapidly growing, particularly in sectors like retail, technology and social enterprise. However, their remains a number of hurdles, limiting their potential for expansion.