Two locals share journey to entrepreneurship
Locals shared their stories of how they did not let unemployment stop them from succeeding.
Many locals struggle to find jobs but some have found alternative ways of generating an income.
Stats SA released the results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the third quarter of 2023 and the data shows that the number of unemployed South Africans stands at 31.9% which is a total of 16 292 unemployed citizens.
As a result of being unemployed, Hendric Lezza Kgomo and Zodwa Mbhele decided to start their businesses and became entrepreneurs. This was firstly, to keep their families fed and secondly, to become a part of the local economy.
Hendrick Lezza Kgomo
Kgomo’s love for the camera started at a young age but making it into the film-making industry seemed impossible to him. He said he was not prepared to venture into an industry or field that he did not love. “As a father of two handsome boys, I wanted them to learn that life is not about feeling sorry for yourself and waiting for a miracle to happen. We get up and try our hardest.”
When he received a leadership, he promised himself that the funds would go towards building his business. He bought a camera from the little he saved up. “From that day forward I never looked back and today the business funds itself and buys equipment from the little we make. I am so glad I made that decision. It is not an easy one but with unemployment statistics constantly going higher, I want to build ‘Grind Studios’ for my children to have a stable future. I don’t want them suffering like I did.”
He recalls the beginning, when after searching and searching for work, he started his business in 2018. “I wasn’t using my equipment until I had saved enough money so that I could purchase some of my own the following year. The light at the end of the tunnel did not look so bright, though I had inspiration. I had a burning desire inside me. When I saw a camera my heart lit up.”
Kgomo shares the challenges which come with being an entrepreneur. “Being an entrepreneur does not mean one does not struggle – I have dry seasons where I hardly get gigs [jobs]. I have limited equipment which can produce amazing content but sometimes I get booked for big gigs and then I have to then rent equipment which is sometimes costly.”
He says smartphones are his biggest challenge. “People feel they do not need photographers because they use smartphones with built-in cameras. What they don’t know is that when you compare the photographs, the pictures I invest time in taking will look so much better. I capture images and sometimes use softbox lighting, reflectors, diffusers, filters and a whole lot more to make the pictures look stunning. There is also some editing.”
Zodwa Mbhele
Mbhele started her decorating business in 2021, after being a domestic worker. She felt she needed to do more for herself.
Mbhele saw that she could start something that would hopefully give employment opportunities to people who were in the same situation as she was. “I got the capital to start my event décor business after the burial of my late daughter. The contributions people made helped me through her burial and a little change left over helped me buy some equipment to start my business.”
‘Nanati Deco’ did not come easy to Mbhele. “I struggle with transporting equipment because I do not have funds to grow the business just yet. As time goes by, I hope we can get equipment to cover all decorations for the different kinds of events,” she said.
Mbhele wishes for her children to follow in her footsteps and hopefully build something big.
“I really do not want my children to suffer in the future and I hope this little company I am trying to build helps more families in the future.”
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