When Johannesburg-based 
entrepreneur Zanele Stole registered Immaculate Cleaning in 2015, she knew it would take more than paperwork to build the business of her dreams. The company only began operating in 2017 and has since grown to employ 27 people, with a footprint in Johannesburg and two satellite offices in Durban.
Immaculate Cleaning has carved out a niche in the competitive facilities services sector, offering cleaning, hygiene, and pest control solutions. Its clients include offices, parking facilities, shopping centres, car dealerships, and government buildings. The company’s services range from deep cleaning and post-construction clean-ups to specialised work on carpets, windows, and upholstery.
“My entrepreneurial journey started with my desire to be independent. I wanted to create something that would have an impact while I was still working in corporate,” she explained.
Her interest in the cleaning sector was sparked by everyday observations. “I was specifically drawn to the cleaning industry because I noticed how large companies were maintaining the buildings we worked in. Despite their resources, I wasn’t satisfied with how they did things,” she said.
At the time, Stole was working in business development, engaging regularly with entrepreneurs. Her first opportunity came through a construction client. “My client in construction became my first cleaning client and reference. At that time, I was only supplying them with cleaning materials, not the cleaning services.”
The real breakthrough came after she began attending tender briefings. Immaculate Cleaning secured its first one-year contract with a government agency. “We didn’t make a profit that year because I was chasing experience and a reference letter. At these briefings, I learnt that without a reference, you don’t get opportunities.”
That first contract, which started with just one cleaner on site, opened the door to bigger projects. A major turning point came in 2019 when she secured a contract to supply toilet rolls. “While fulfilling that contract, I asked if they could also use our cleaning services. They requested proof of experience, and I provided the reference letter from our earlier contract. They granted me a three-month contract — and that site had four cleaners, my first time managing a team.”
Recognition soon followed. Immaculate Cleaning and Hygiene Services won the 2020 Eskom Business Investment Competition (BIC) in the Trade & Services category. Stole was also a finalist at the 2020 Standard Bank Top Women Awards and a Young Achiever Finalist at the 2021 Top Empowerment Virtual Summit and Awards.
Her story is a powerful example of how perseverance, learning, and self-belief can transform a single opportunity into a thriving business that creates jobs and inspires others.
For more information on Immaculate Cleaning and Hygiene Services, visit immaculateservices.co.za
BIC: https://www.eskom.co.za/about-eskom/corporate-social-investment/business-investment-competition/
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