Driven by passion, determination and resilience, Liyabona Xishibana has at the age of just 28 distinguished herself in the male-dominated industry of plumbing.
Not only has she been running a successful business in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), since 2019, but last year she won a prestigious Artisans of Mzansi award. She was the youngest and only female winner of this annual competition powered by Allan Gray Makers.
Liyabona Xishibana.
Supplied by Allan Gray Makers
Liyabona came from humble beginnings in Libode, a small town near Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. Her father was the owner of a glass glazing company. One of three children and part of a large extended family, she takes inspiration from her parents’ impeccable work ethic and relentless drive.
Her studies in Civil Engineering originally brought her to Gqeberha and once there, she enrolled for a plumbing apprenticeship even though she’d never considered plumbing as a career before. Very quickly she learnt just how lucrative this trade is, especially when one owns the plumbing enterprise.
In her second year of apprenticeship aged 21, she and her business partner, Teboho Kolisang also a plumbing apprentice, established Bonaho Plumbers. “I was inspired by the idea of working with my hands, solving problems, and building something meaningful” she explains, adding, “I didn’t see myself working for someone else considering the bad treatment I received as an apprentice. I wanted to create an environment in which anyone could thrive.”
According to Liyabona the plumbers going out on jobs receive a mere fraction of the money clients pay – less than 10% in her estimation. “I also did not like how I was treated as an employee. I wanted to create a better, more inclusive working environment for myself and others.”
In 2021 she and Teboho qualified and Liyabona went the extra mile to acquire a plumbing licence. In 2022 she participated in the Allan Gray Maker’s mentorship programme to learn the skills required to a run a business.
Last year Bonaho Plumbers generated enough annual income (under R1-million) to enter the micro-business category of Artisans of Mzansi. An interview and pitch-readiness training were part of this countrywide competition focused on artisanal entrepreneurs.
She made it to the final eight and ended up pitching her business to a panel of judges at the 2025 Fusion Fest in Johannesburg. “The audience’s response to my pitch told me I’d done well. Afterwards everyone wanted to talk to me and connect with me.
“People I didn’t even know wanted my contacts details and business cards. At the time, I didn’t even have business cards, but it was exciting. It was very exciting, and it showed me that I had done very well”.
The moment she was announced an Artisans of Mzansi winner still feels unreal to Liyabona: “To this day, I still don’t believe we’d won. When I look at the award, I pinch myself to make sure I’m awake and it wasn’t all just a dream,” she says.
Winning boosted her confidence and is a reminder of the value of hard work: “It increased the business’s credibility and visibility. People are now confident we know what we’re doing because how else were we able to win a national competition?”
Her advice to young women who want to succeed as business owners in the male-dominated trades is “to be ready for the journey. Set your doubts aside and go for it. Also, you must be ready to fight for what you want. You’ll get comments like, ‘Why are you doing this?’, but be confident and believe in yourself.”
She said her family could not have been prouder following her win. “When I’d spoken to my father before pitching, he told me, ‘It’s yours’ – that’s how much faith he had in me. My family is extremely proud because I put our name out there and the small town of Libode on the map.”
When asked where she sees her business in five years’ time, Liyabona answers she wants to create more jobs and mentor young people. “Currently Teboho and I are the only full-time employees at Bonaho Plumbers. A business that employs more people is feeding more families.
“I also want to mentor young people entering the industry so that as much as it’s a male-dominated industry they know everyone is welcome and can grow in it with the right mindset and hard work,” she says.
Liyabona also wants to grow her business beyond Gqeberha, and with her drive and determination, this ambition is not out of her reach.
Source Supplied by Allan Gray Makers
