Allied Steelrode supports the ‘sisters of steel’ in serving the Pretoria region

The steel business has always been perceived as a male preserve. However, in Rosslyn, north of Pretoria, there are two vibrant women who are challenging this traditionally-held perception on a daily business – literally, the ‘sisters of steel’. Gwen Mahuma and Monika Pretorius are respectively Business Development Director and Managing Director of BBD Steel Supplies. Since its inception in 2014 – and despite the extremely tough economy of recent years – the business has doubled its turnover every year since then. From a three-person start-up, it now employs 27 people in a 75 percent black women-owned business, working from a well-equipped 4000 m2 facility. Mahuma and Pretorius have both had previous experience in the steel sector. “While we also have a similarly strong entrepreneurial drive, we realised early on that we needed to have the synergistic benefit of a senior, successful industry player and mentor,” explains Mahuma.