Durban — The KwaZulu-Natal south coast community of KwaNzimakwe say they are grateful for the opportunities their local Ray Nkonyeni Municipality has given them in order to start their small businesses.
Gathered in a marquee on Sunday, in the pouring rain, local aspiring small business women and men showcased their wares and products… all gushing on about working hard to see their dreams come true as they fight for their livelihoods and their children’s futures.
Speaking to the Daily News, an enthusiastic, aspiring coffee maker and coffee beans trader Pearl Shusha told how her dream of starting her own business in coffee brewing has developed into what it is today.
Shusha, the owner of Prowoberry Cafe, said when she finished matric, she went on to study food and beverages course and worked as a barrister at a Margate restaurant/ pub- further adding that is when she developed the love of one day establishing her own coffee trading enterprise.
Shusha believes that now is the time for women to make inroads in this industry.
“I began my small business operation as a mobile operator, of which I still operate from. I source my coffee beans from a local Margate coffee bean trader, package it and sell it from our mobile. This is a 100% woman-owned enterprise, and it operates within the community of KwaNzimakwe,” Shusha said.
She further added that apart from selling ground coffee, she also plans to have her own coffee plants farm- and she is currently the owner of a one-hectare farm in the area of KwaNzimakwe- where in she plants her own coffee seedlings of which she hopes to one day source her own coffee beans from, and also sell some to the local members of her community.
Shusha went on to thank the local Ray Nkonyeni Municipality for the financial assistance they have given her.
Another enterprising business idea by local KwaNzimakwe community members is that of two middle-aged women, the Songo sisters, who established a skincare and health small enterprise called Moringa Naturals Pty.
Mpumi and Thuli Songo are the proud owners of a small business that trade in African attire items and beads and also produces skincare and health products from a moringa plant.
Focussing on their health products, their business operation is in the area of Mvutshini in Gamalakhe, and their products are in powder form, capsules, soap and petroleum.
“Our main customers are the elderly, those with heart problems, males with testicular health problems, and even the youth.
“Our moringa health products also help with fatigue and alertness- and they can be used by children from three years of age through to adults- except for pregnant women.
“We are currently busy with product testing, and as soon as our products have passed the SABS test, we will begin the process of having them made available on open shelves in shops,” the two sisters chorused.
Asanda Mkhize is another young woman who owns and runs an oyster mushrooms small enterprise, which is located in the KwaNositha area, Margate.
The sole-owned business is called Oatlands Oyster Mushrooms.
Mkhize said after graduating from college, she struggled to find work and decided to start a small business.
She decided on her mushrooms because they are easy to plant and are in demand in her community.
She said she plants her mushrooms using the greenhouse method, adding that, besides selling to the local community members, she is proud to say she now supplies her product to the local Food Lovers Market and Spar stores at the South Coast Mall, in the Scottsburg Pick n Pay.
“I am very grateful to funding from the Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Department as well as Operation Vula Fund for their assistance with funding,” Mkhize said.
She added that her business has now provided five local people with employment.
Daily News