Tsomo-born businessman, Nangamso Ntlemeza, says that the secret to being successful in business is to be passionate, starting small and not be lazy.
He recently shared his rags to riches story, as motivation to other young business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, during the Youth Business Summit held at Mthatha Stadium on Thursday, July 6.
The summit was jointly hosted by the National Youth Development Agency, National Federated Chamber of Commerce, and the South African Youth Council.
Having started his business journey by supplying fruit and vegetables to street vendors, Ntlemeza now owns a chain on MTN franchise stores in Mthatha and Mount Frere.
“I started my business by supplying fruit and vegetables to street vendors back in 2017. I sold a private car I had for a bakkie. I would drive to Durban in the evening to get my fruit and vegetables stock, and by the following morning I would sell the stock to street vendors,” Ntlemeza recalled.
He further said that he also used his bakkie to deliver items such as furniture from Mthatha town to his clients’ places of residences as another source of income.
Today, the trailblazing Ntlemeza’s self-funded businesses have a monthly turnover of R2 million, and currently employ 38 permanent staff members that are 100 percent youth with more businesses in the pipeline.
“The reality is that there are a lot of businesses for the youth. If you look at our villages, businesses have been taken over by foreign nationals and that is a space where youth should be starting their businesses,” said Ntlemeza.
He said that most businesses do not even need educational qualifications, but passion and determination.
Ntlemeza said that he is working on opening more businesses that will create 150 job opportunities for the youth from now until the end of 2024.
