Zukiswa Silinga: Building an industrial legacy that makes room for more women.
We had such a wonderful chat with Zukiswa, who strongly believes South Africa needs more black female-owned enterprises operating at the highest levels of industry, quality and impact. Speaking with her, it quickly becomes clear that her ambitions stretch beyond building a successful company. She wants to create opportunities for people who have historically been left out of the room, prepare businesses for the future and leave behind a legacy that continues long after her own journey.
As the founder of Orivision (Pty) Ltd, a 100% black female-owned holding company operating across manufacturing, energy, construction and advisory services, Zukiswa is taking that vision into industries where women have not always found it easy to establish themselves. But she is not approaching the task simply to prove that a woman can lead. She wants to build businesses that solve problems, develop people and contribute to the economic future of the Eastern Cape and South Africa.
“Having worked in the automotive sector for 22 years, it has always been my vision to build a legacy that will outlive me,” she tells us. “To create space for women, youth and differently abled persons.”
That vision was shaped partly by her experience at Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA), where she served on the transformation committee, working on inclusion and empowerment. She also saw the difference that development and mentorship could make in people's lives.
“I coach and marvel to see people grow from shy to extraordinary,” she says.
For Zukiswa, unemployment among previously disadvantaged groups was another reason to establish a company that could offer something deeper than employment. She wanted Orivision to become a builder, a developer and a source of hope and stability.
Learning to find her voice in the room
Entering and establishing herself in industrial spaces came with challenges, some familiar to other women and others specific to her own experience. Zukiswa believes her journey changed not only her, but also the people she encountered, from senior leaders to colleagues working on the production line.
One of the most important lessons she learnt was that standing up for herself did not always require confrontation. Sometimes, it meant asking better questions.
“I learned a way to ‘fight’ is to ask questions, to interrogate answers, question behaviours, correct narratives, set boundaries, know my worth, find a place for my voice to matter and be heard,” she explains.
It is a lesson in leadership that goes beyond the boardroom. Knowing when to challenge a decision, when to ask for clarity and when to draw a boundary can change how people experience you professionally.
Zukiswa also understands that trust cannot be demanded. It has to be earned through consistent work, accountability and the willingness to learn from mistakes.
She believes in owning her errors, treating new challenges as opportunities for growth, asking for feedback and remaining rooted in her values, even when pleasing others might appear to be the easier option.
Over the years, she has built a respected name in the automotive sector through operational excellence, people development and leadership. That experience now informs how she approaches Orivision and the relationships she builds around it.
Building businesses with tomorrow in mind
Orivision operates across several sectors, but the different parts of the business are not simply a collection of opportunities. Zukiswa says they have been deliberately positioned to support one another over time.
For her, identifying an opportunity is only the beginning. It requires research, planning and nurturing before it can become a sustainable business.
“Opportunities need to be researched, nurtured and planned,” she says.
Her approach is to anticipate future challenges and start developing solutions today. The company's packaging manufacturing ambitions respond to the shift towards reducing plastic use. Its renewable energy focus looks towards cleaner energy that could power its plants in the future. Business development and auditing services are intended to support growth, ethical processes and high standards, while skills development is about preparing workers for the demands of future industries and smarter factories.
“It's about looking ahead and not here,” she explains, describing an approach built around solutions and sustainability.
Zukiswa Silinga: Building an industrial legacy that makes room for more women.
That forward-looking mindset also shapes how she thinks about partnerships. Rather than attempting to do everything alone, Zukiswa sees collaboration as an important part of building a business capable of competing for larger projects.
“Together we are stronger,” she says.
She prioritises clear roles and responsibilities, accountability, commitment and innovation. She also believes in working with people who are willing to think big and explore possibilities beyond what is immediately visible.
Her advice to entrepreneurs is to remain prepared, understand their businesses and learn to communicate their value clearly. Sometimes, that means being able to explain what you offer in five minutes. Other times, it means delivering the entire idea in one sentence.
“You must be able to pitch to anyone in five minutes, or one sentence,” she says.
Not every potential partner will immediately recognise the opportunity. Zukiswa is comfortable with that. She believes in presenting a strong proposition, demonstrating its value and allowing time for the right relationships to develop.
Pulling up a chair at the CEO Table
In November, Zukiswa will bring this belief in collaboration to life through CEO Table, a curated platform in East London designed to bring business leaders, executives, entrepreneurs and professionals together for conversations about leadership, enterprise, influence and opportunity.
“The CEO's Table is a platform where I set the table, we all indulge and empower ourselves and others,” she explains.
The ambition extends beyond a single gathering. The inaugural event is intended to begin a continuing platform where people can exchange ideas, build relationships and identify opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.
For Zukiswa, creating access is particularly important in the Eastern Cape. She regularly attends conferences and business gatherings where she learns, builds relationships and identifies opportunities for company growth. But she recognises that not every entrepreneur has access to spaces where major decisions are discussed and strategies are shaped.
She wants to help change that.
Her vision for CEO Table is rooted in inclusion, development, empowerment, service and practical solutions. She wants women entrepreneurs and business leaders to leave with connections and perspectives that can contribute to their growth long after the event ends.
“No woman should be left outside the door with other women around,” she says.
It is a powerful reminder that leadership comes with responsibility. Women who have secured a seat at the table can help open doors for those coming behind them.
As Zukiswa sees it, business growth does not happen in isolation. Companies become stronger when people share knowledge, collaborate and create opportunities for one another.
Broken crayons still colour
When we ask Zukiswa what she would tell a young woman hoping to enter an industry where she rarely sees women like herself, she responds with a line that captures her outlook on adversity.
“Broken crayons colour too.”
For her, setbacks do not have to determine the outcome. Challenges can reveal gaps, teach valuable lessons and help people identify new ways forward.
“When you do not win, keep knocking,” she advises. “Sometimes, in rejection, we open our eyes to gaps that we did not know existed.”
She encourages women to trust themselves, invest in education, research their industries and keep learning. But she also emphasises the importance of personal boundaries. No opportunity, she believes, should require a woman to abandon her values or compromise who she is.
“Your destiny is in your hands,” she says. “Don't blame other people.”
It is advice that reflects the kind of legacy she hopes to build through Orivision and CEO Table. Success, in her view, is not simply about reaching a senior position or growing a company. It is about using that progress to create opportunities for others and influence what becomes possible for the next generation.
Zukiswa is building with the future in mind, from the industries Orivision serves to the people she hopes to empower. Her message to women across the Eastern Cape is to recognise what they bring, prepare themselves for the opportunities ahead and keep moving, even when the path is uncertain.
As she reminds us, “No mountain is too high, no river too low for God to locate you at a point of need.”
For a woman determined to build a legacy that outlives her, the work is not only about what she can achieve today. It is about the doors she can open, the people she can develop and the businesses she can help shape for tomorrow.
For more, visit: Orivision
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