She was born and raised in KwaNgcolosi, right on the edge of the Inanada Dam in the Valley of 1000 Hills. She didn’t have a stable upbringing, staying for years at a time with various extended relatives until she finished grade 11 and left home in search of work in Durban. She landed an entry-level job at Steers in Florida Road when she was 18, which launched her career in the hospitality sector.
Over the next 15 years, she worked for eight years in hospitality retail in outlets like Steers, Nandos, Some Like it Hot, Afro’s Chicken and SPAR, and worked as a cleaner, an electrician’s assistant, a promoter and a model. She mostly worked at junior levels and only in 2022 was promoted to a managerial level at Afro’s Chicken in Hillcrest.
She was proud to have built her 2-bedroom own home next to Inanda Dam when she was only 22 years old through hard work and perseverance.
She was fortunate to gain the support of people who believed in her abilities and early this year, started the negotiations to launch the well-loved Durban-based brand Afro’s Chicken at The Pav. This was a case of “Go big or go home!” as The Pavilion is one of the busiest and one of the most successful shopping malls in KZN. Amazingly, everything aligned for her to open the shop as planned, despite numerous challenges along the way. It has already become one of Afro’s flagship stores and is popular.
Nonto is a hands-on owner/manager, and if you visit the shop, you are likely to find her there. Please give the shop a visit and be inspired!
