Manyano Jele and Bianca Shakinovsky have joined forces to save FloorworX, which was until recently under business rescue. FloorworX has 70 years of local vinyl expertise and is the only manufacturer in South Africa who produces semi-flexible vinyl tiles and fully flexible vinyl sheeting and tiles.

Jele and Shakinovsky are each driven by a personal passion. 

Despite moving to Johannesburg with his family years later, Jele’s desire for revitalising East London stems from his birth link in the township of Mdantsane in East London. He has qualifications in Industrial Engineering, Certified Cost Engineering, and an MBA from Hult International Business School. These qualifications mean he has a wealth of international experience in the mining and infrastructure sectors. Jele has over 18 years of experience working for firms such as Murray & Roberts, South Deep Mine, Harmony Mine, Transaction Capital, GIBB, and Hatch.

Jele also founded Mila Green Solutions and KES Smart Cloud companies. He has held positions on the boards of Newshelf Mine and ISDA, so FloorworX is in capable hands.

Bianca Shakinovsky is no stranger to the flooring industry. At the age of sixteen, she began her career in the sector and went on to establish her own prosperous company, PentaFloor. Shakinovsky faced hardships growing up in a single-parented home, so she went to work for a paving company to help support her mother and look after her younger brother. She would attend school in the mornings and work in the afternoons. She progressed into interior design and later, influenced by her experience in flooring, founded PentaFloor.

Shakinovsky’s MBA and extensive knowledge of the flooring sector will be crucial in transforming FloorworX from a manufacturing-focused company to one that is customer-focused. With this in mind, Shakinovsky has decided to close the floor-covering contracting division of PentaFloor.

The new FloorworX board of directors will be governed by Mikki Xayiya as non-executive chairman. Serial entrepreneur and co-founder of thriving businesses in the listed and private space, as attested by his key roles in Mvelaphanda Group and associated investments, Xayiya is passionate about contributing to the economic growth of the Eastern Cape. Xayiya played his part in the democratisation process in South Africa, which saw him involved in the anti-apartheid struggle, ending up as a political prisoner at Robben Island. He is a passionate reader who values the transformative power of education.

To bring FloorworX back to life, Jele and Shakinovsky will collaborate closely with the staff and management team. Reviving old relationships, forming new ones, and igniting growth for the East London community are all part of FloorworX’s exciting future!