13 years ago, newly-qualified analytical chemistry student Hulisani Khorommbi was working on an acid mine drainage project as part of her in-service training at a water treatment company in Mpumalanga. Today, her passion for providing clean water to South African businesses and consumers has turned into a successful business, Blu Water Technologies, which specialises in providing water solutions to mainly mines, businesses, hotels and residential customers in the Limpopo province.

Her young company’s big break came when she was awarded a contract to provide water treatment solutions and consulting services to Anglo American Platinum’s Mogalakwena mine three years ago. Her scope of work included supply of chemical products, water treatment equipment and water applications monitoring and management.

With the support of Anglo American’s enterprise development initiative Zimele, she has never looked back. Today, her 100% black female owned company, has ventured into producing purified and alkaline bottled water and premium ice cubes. The Blu Water Shop focuses in the public and hotels markets.

“Working for a leading water treatment company for nine years, I often worked directly with customers on site. As a result, I developed a good understanding of client operations and the value of water to those operations. I’m deeply committed to finding solutions to industry problems, and I saw a gap in the industry. Living in a water scarce town, I also saw a gap in the supply of borehole and municipal water treatment solutions for the residential customers”. The Blu Water shop also offers borehole water testing and equipment installations.” says Ms Khorommbi.

The growth of her company has afforded her to employ a total of 15 people of which 10 focuses in the mining division and 5 in the residential division.

“Zimele’s involvement has been a significant factor in my business’ development,” says Ms Khorommbi. “I’ve always been more on the technical side of things, and they have taught me a huge amount about business, finance, and how to link our value proposition to suppliers. Of course, they also exposed me to the Anglo American supply chain, which has resulted in life-changing business opportunities.”

Anglo American’s Head of Zimele, Larisha Naidoo, says the work done with BluWater is a great example of how entrepreneurship development can drive sustainable local procurement activity, create jobs, develop skills and contribute to the growth of more prosperous communities.

For Khorommbi, it means she gets to live her dream of supplying clean water to as many people as possible, while developing her business. “With Zimele beside me, the sky’s the limit,” she says.