What makes the woman behind Dsolar tick? Ido Lekota found out…
Dsolar—a 100 percent black female-owned ernergy efficient company—is making significant waves in the renewable enegy sector. This happens under the leadership of Kabo Leshoai, who founded Dingwedi Renewable Energy in 2015, which is now trading as Dsolar.
Kabo had a pioneering role in setting up the first two Independent Power Producer solar farms for Eskom in 2012. She has also served as an Executive Director on the Canyons Springs Investment board and has been involved in various solar power projects actively contributing to South Africa’s renewable energy sector.
Under Kabo’s leadership, Dsolar has been recognised for innovation and excellence, notably winning at the 2025 CIBD ERWIC Awards. This accolade reflects the company’s cutting-edge contributions to solar installations and project delivery excellence. Kabo’s leadership has positioned Dsolar as a key player in advancing renewable energy adoption and sustainability in South Africa.
Overall, Kabo’s influence exemplifies strong female leadership in a male-dominated sector, and she is respected for pioneering impactful solar power projects that support South Africa’s clean energy goals.
In a recent sit-down with Leadership Magazine, we captured what inspired her to establish Dsolar and how her vision for the company took shape in its early days. She largely ascribed her inspiration to her involvement in the country’s first round of Independent Power Producer (IPP) Programme.
“I was a shareholder in two renewable projects—Greefspan and Herbert in the Northern Cape—where we collectively built over 20 MW of solar generation capacity. Being part of that pioneering phase gave me a front-row seat to how transformative renewable energy could be for both our economy and our communities.
“Dsolar was born from that excitement—the need to be part of a new world of green technology and to make renewable energy accessible to ordinary people. Our goal was to bring professional, compliant, and affordable solutions into homes, businesses, and public facilities with the same care and standards as the IPP sector.
“From the very beginning, we’ve been passionate about the industry and remain inspired by how it continues to evolve the national conversation around energy, sustainability, and what’s now possible for South Africa.”
Strategies and Factors for Success
For Kabo, Dsolar’s growth has been driven by a deep understanding of the renewable energy sector’s requirements, a strong commitment to compliance, and a constant willingness to learn.
“We stay close to our industry bodies, always following their direction to maintain the highest standards of quality and safety. Learning is ongoing work for us—every project, every partnership, and every new regulation presents an opportunity to improve.
“Over the years, we’ve also built and maintained strong relationships with product brand owners, suppliers, and distributors.”
Kabo believes Dsolar’s success comes not from chasing scale, but from a steadfast commitment to compliance, curiosity, and strong stakeholder connection.
She also believes Dsolar’s success is driven by an understanding that: “In a fast-evolving sector like renewable energy, knowledge is power, and we take every opportunity to grow—whether through supplier training, product demonstrations, exhibitions, or technical conferences.”
150 kW solar PV project earning Dsolar recognition at the 2025 CIDB ERWIC Awards
“The 150 kW solar PV project that earned us recognition at the 2025 CIDB ERWIC Awards was a meaningful milestone. In the bigger picture of megawatt-scale installations, it’s a relatively modest project—but for us, it represented a moment of validation and pride.”
The system comprised a 150 kW ATESS inverter, 300 kWh Freedom Won lithium battery, and 260×560 W Canadian Solar panels, supported by structural engineering, generator harmonisation, and a full SSEG municipal sign-off. It was completed within the desired timeline, at a high technical level, and with minimal post-installation complications.
According to Kabo, what made the project special wasn’t only the engineering precision but also the collaboration—where Dsolar had a great client who trusted them and strong partners who shared the company’s commitment to excellence.
“Every project, big or small, is an opportunity to grow, and this one strengthened our confidence as a team while demonstrating that quality, compliance, and efficiency remain at the heart of everything we deliver.”
Female entrepreneur in a traditionally male-dominated sector
Kabo contends that her professional approach to the business, including understanding the language of the sector, the technical standards, compliance structures and operational expectations, as well as bringing the best team to every project, alleviated any possibility of gender bias against Dsolar. Part of this approach included reach out to industry colleagues seeking advice or exploring partnerships.
“We’ve never been afraid to share work or collaborate. I’ve always believed in learning from the best—observing how the big players operate and applying those lessons in our own way. In this field, credibility is built on results. By ensuring Dsolar consistently delivers high-quality, compliant projects, we’ve found that our work speaks for itself. Much of our business now comes through referrals, which is a huge boost to our confidence. The goal has never been to prove a point about gender, though representation remains important to us. We champion women’s ownership and visibility, but ultimately our focus is on delivering excellence and keeping the doors open for other women to walk through.”
Fostering Discipline and Teamwork
Kabo’s approach to fostering discipline and teamwork entails planning and more planning. This means ensuring every project begins with a detailed scope, timeline, and compliance checklist. The process is taken seriously because it protects Dsolar’s brand promise.
“Our team works collaboratively, understanding that execution builds trust. Whether it’s our engineers, electricians, or admin staff, everyone is aligned around accountability and precision. That culture has allowed us to take on complex installations—from multi-inverter systems and heat-pump integrations to solar-powered boreholes and hybrid setups—with confidence. It’s this teamwork and shared discipline that allow us to offer full turnkey energy-efficiency solutions for our clients and has earned us recognition in the industry.”
Supporting and Empowering other Black Entrepreneurs
Dsolar—whose client base is 98% black-owned businesses support the empowerment of other black entrepreneurs by ensuring that servicing those businesses is more than a transaction—it’s a shared commitment to lifting one another.
“Most of our clients are first-generation business owners navigating similar challenges to those we’ve faced. Supporting them, means sharing knowledge, being patient, and proving that professional excellence and empowerment can coexist. When one of us grows, the whole ecosystem benefits. Renewable energy has the power to build not only systems but communities — and that starts with us empowering each other.”
Renewable Energy as a Tool for Building More Inclusive and Resilient Communities
Through their work in disadvantaged communities, where access to power can mean the difference between success and failure, Dsolar Energy has changed the equation, by for example, supplying energy enabling learners to write matric exams under proper lighting.
“Through our CSI programme, we continue to support matric students with solar lamps they can take home to study, and the impact has been deeply rewarding,” states Kabo.
She says in her experience, communities that depend on unstable grids or expensive diesel generators are often the same ones already facing economic hardship. Solar changes that equation by allowing households and small businesses to control their own energy future.
“Reliable energy creates jobs, stabilises small farms, supports food security, and opens doors to opportunity. In a country like ours, renewable energy isn’t just about saving the planet; it’s about restoring balance and equity right here at home.”
Balancing Innovation with Compliance
For Kabo, innovation starts with staying connected to new technology—updated products, evolving standards, and system upgrades. It means loving exploring new ways to deliver efficiency, but operating in a space that’s tightly regulated for safety and quality.
“Our approach is to innovate responsibly. Before implementing any new system or technology, we go through the necessary training, approvals, and testing processes. It sometimes slows things down, but it ensures that our innovation is sustainable, safe, and compliant—protecting both our clients and our reputation.”
Looking Forward
Under Kabo’s tutelage, Dsolar’s vision for the next decade is to scale impact, not just installations. The company seeks to continue reshaping how renewable energy supports communities, industries, and local economies.
In the short term, the company will keep expanding its commercial and industrial footprint while growing its energy-efficiency and water-saving projects, especially around heat-pump and water-heating technologies that reduce consumption and costs.
“Over the next five to ten years, we plan to develop larger microgrid and IPP-scale projects, partnering with industry, municipalities and private developers to wheel clean, stable power to clients who are committed to sustainable energy. Our goal is to extend this access to townships and municipal precincts. But no matter how large we grow, the heart of DSolar will stay the same—delivering honest, efficient, and empowering energy solutions while ensuring clients always have full access to us.”
Ido Lekota is a media practitioner and an independent socio-political commentator.