Nkhame Elizabeth Masinga from Thakgalang in Limpopo is a mother of three and a determined hawker who has turned hardship into an opportunity to provide for her family. After completing matric at Mamokgari High School, Masinga’s life changed when her parents passed away. She became the second of four daughters and found herself carrying the responsibility of raising her children while struggling to make ends meet.
Today, she runs a small business selling cheese snacks, popcorn, sweets, ice pops, ice cream, chips, sliced potatoes, chicken feet and magwinya. “Life is difficult. There are no jobs, so you must create one for yourself,” says Nkhame. She encourages people who want to start businesses not to wait until they have large amounts of money.
“You can start a small business with the little money you have. Even R370 can be used to buy ice cream, ice pops and cones and sell them at a school. You will see what happens.”
However, Masinga says access to enough stock remains one of her biggest challenges, as having limited stock can affect profits.
“Business is very good, but you must have enough stock so that you can see the profit. Sometimes I don’t have enough.”
Despite the challenges, her small business helps her put food on the table and pay for electricity. Her dream is to grow the business into a large spaza shop, while learning more about funding opportunities that can help her expand.
Masinga also has a message for young people: “Life is tough. Focus on school, respect your elders and try small business. Nothing is easy.”
She expressed her gratitude to the learners and parents of Maphudithomo Primary School for supporting her business and helping her serve the community. For Masinga, entrepreneurship is more than making money—it is about survival, dignity and creating a better future for her children