EV charging network opens new opportunities for women and Stormsrivier local businesses

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government is helping build a greener future through a public electric-vehicle charging network. The project is not only about the strategic placement of chargers on high-traffic roads. It is also about creating opportunities for small towns, local businesses, and women entrepreneurs.

The Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC-EC) has rolled out fifteen public EV charging stations across the province. These chargers are placed along important travel routes, including the Coastal Route, the Frontier Country Route, and the Karoo Heartland Route.

During Women’s Month, AIDC-EC is highlighting the role of women in this growing green economy. Women entrepreneurs and property owners host four of the fifteen fast chargers. This gives women a direct role in innovative technology and infrastructure.

The charging stations are also assisting nearby businesses. When EV drivers stop to charge their cars, they engage in the local economy in the area. Thus, increasing foot traffic to local businesses.

The project shows that clean energy initiatives can grow local economies. It also shows how the Eastern Cape provincial government is supporting women to partake in these new industries, which are often led by men, including technology, transport, and automotive infrastructure.

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Q: Please tell us about yourself and your business.

I am a proud mother of two incredible daughters, a businesswoman and an entrepreneur who has had the privilege of working across different industries. The loss of my husband and both parents has changed my life in ways I could never have imagined, but it also taught me resilience, courage, and the importance of persevering even when the road ahead seems uncertain.

One of the businesses I lead is the Tsitsikhaya Lodge and Spa, nestled in the heart of Tsitsikamma. We are a nature-based hospitality business focused on authentic experiences, wellness, and community upliftment. 

Our lodge welcomes both local and international guests who want to connect with the forest and the ocean and enjoy local culture. As one of the few black-owned, woman-led businesses in the area, we are committed to sustainability and creating opportunities for our local community.

Q: How did your business become a host for an AIDC-EC EV charging station?

We share the same vision of growing a greener, more inclusive economy in the Eastern Cape. My background stems from 15 years’ experience gathered in top management across four different national parks, i.e. Addo Elephant, Mountain Zebra, Tsitsikamma and Table Mountain. Partnering with the Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape, AIDC-EC, seemed like a perfect match in that we can be a part of innovative solutions whilst playing our role in the green economy.

When the opportunity came to host one of the public EV fast chargers on our property, we saw it as a natural fit. It allows us to support clean energy, attract new travellers on the Coastal Route, and showcase Tsitsikamma as a forward-thinking destination.

Q: How has hosting an EV charger helped you as a woman in business?

Hosting an EV charger has positioned Tsitsikhaya Lodge and Spa at the centre of innovation and tourism in our area. It brings more foot traffic to the lodge; guests who stop to charge often stay for coffee, a meal, or even overnight. 

It also gives me, as a woman entrepreneur, a visible role in technology and infrastructure, spaces that have traditionally been male dominated. It is empowering to know that our small business is part of building the province’s green future.

Q: What motivational message do you have for other women during Women’s Month?

To all the women out there: take up space in every room, even the ones you were never invited to…and remember that storms will come, but every storm must rain out.

The green economy, technology, and tourism need our voices, our ideas, and our leadership.

Do not wait for permission, partner; learn and build. When women rise, communities rise with us. Let this Women’s Month remind us that we are not just participants in the future; we are the ones creating it.