About WDBIH
The realisation that the majority of South African women have little or no access to finance nor business training, resulted in the establishment of the Woman’s Development Banking (WDB) Group ten years ago
To grow their capital base and generate an income, the WDB makes investments in high-growth businesses. Some of the investments they have made include Avis SA, Caesars Gauteng and Siza Water Company – the first privatised water company on Natal’s Dolphin Coast. To date, the organisation has granted more than 20 000 loans with a monetary value of approximately R20 million. They have also trained more than 10 000 women in basic business skills which have resulted in directly creating the same number of jobs. The social and economic impact on the rural communities of this initiative is great and inevitably leads to more indirect job creation.
The dynamic and experienced management team in the WDB Group has its finger on the pulse of developments in this market sector, continuously analysing the consumers’ needs and adapting their products accordingly. Their medium-term goals of building the capital base, investing in medium sized businesses with potential for strong cash generation, and introducing strategic partners and investors into the organisation, is supported by a well-defined long-term strategy. This includes reinforcing viability and financial sustainability and continuously growing operational businesses.
The WDB Group is committed to doing business in an honest manner and aims to contribute to South Africa and its people through the way it operates and the principles it applies when dealing with employees, business partners, stakeholders and customers.
