Moses Diseko* is the owner of a thriving building and construction business that employs 36 builders, painters and cleaners. This trained builder, registered with the National Housing Registration Council, is well aware of factors that can impact on his company, and he keeps a close watch over petrol prices, transportation requirements, salaries and equipment costs.

Moses has close relationships with his family. His daughter oversees the management of the construction business and he provides for seven family members, including two grandchildren who are at school. The financial and business management aspects of the BizAIDS training have come in handy, especially due to a challenge resulting from an incorrect classification by SARS, which has impacted on Moses’ cash-flow.

Moses understands that HIV and AIDS are real issues affecting real South Africans. During the training, he spoke of his grief as AIDS took away two of his sons and a daughter-in-law within a period of 18 months. This changed his role of a grandfather to that of a primary caregiver for the grandchildren.

Moses has also lost employees to AIDS, and he is surprised and concerned that many people around him remain ignorant and careless about HIV transmission and dealing with AIDS. Although Moses and his customers make HIV/AIDS information and services freely available, his advice to workers and his children regarding financial and funeral planning and behavioural change have so far been largely ignored.

Despite these challenges, Moses is optimistic about his business, and regards his 10-years of building industry experience, and cost management and supervising skills as competitive advantages that have enabled the sustainability of his enterprise.

* Not his real name