Umlazi entrepreneur Zinhle Maphanga’s little sweet shop survived a global pandemic, devastating riots and more recently the floods that ravaged KwaZulu-Natal.
The former domestic worker, who had ambitions of owning a candy business since she was a young girl peddling sweets and chocolates on the streets of her hometown, has saved her business All Things Sweet from ruin many times.
Maphanga is among 10 small business owners in Durban and Johannesburg who are the real-life heroes in the newly launched book The Overcomers, compiled by Alef Meulenberg, head of youth empowerment NPO Afrika Tikkun Foundation.
The township-based entrepreneurs have been able to revive what they lost in the turmoil of the past three years through the #RevivingTownshipEconomies initiative, brought to life by Afrika Tikkun, Rhiza Babuyile and Township Fleva — non-profit, community based organisations and social enterprises.
Meulenberg said the initiative aimed to help small township and rural-based businesses rise “from the ashes”.
“South Africans who fought for years to overcome poverty, crime and inequality by starting their own businesses found their life’s work and livelihood destroyed overnight by members of their very own community,” he said.
Maphanga opened her sweet shop in 2020 at the Philani Mall in Umlazi, which was left in ruins by looters.
“The pandemic affected me very badly because my business did not operate for a while.”
She lost most of her customer base but managed to keep the business running until the riots.
“I did not have any insurance at the time. I suffered a lot because they took everything I had in the shop.”
5,000 — the number of jobs the #RevivingTownshipEconomies initiative has saved
1,400 — the number of small businesses assisted
— IN NUMBERS:
Maphanga was devastated to learn she had been cleaned out by community members.
“I was very disappointed in them. They took my stock, equipment, money and furniture.
“Looting taught me that I need to have business insurance and save money, so that I'm covered should anything happen again.”
She received financial aid from the #RevivingTownshipEconomies initiative to restart her business.
After moving to another mall in Umlazi, Maphanga had to again contend with destruction to her business during the floods of April 2022.
“The floods left me heartbroken because my stock was written off. My equipment and furniture was damaged. I had to start again, but I’m surviving. I put everything I make into the business to keep it going.”
Another overcomer, Gugulethu Khumalo, who heads the Umdeni creche and preschool in Umlazi, has also faced trying times since 2020, mainly because of the pandemic and the riots.
“The pandemic hit us all hard when we least expected it. Everything came to a complete stop.”
Her crèche was closed for several months but eventually reopened amid strict Covid-19 protocols.
But looters struck in July 2021, obliterating the school.
“We lost everything, we were left with only the four walls and part of the roof.
“Everything was taken, what couldn’t be was completely destroyed. The place looked like an abandoned, vandalised old building in a matter of minutes.
“As the crèche is housed in a church building, the costs amounted to about R2m ... I was completely finished.
“But I had to think really fast and hard, I couldn’t let my dream die like that. And the best way was to seek help.”
Khumalo said financial aid came from the #RevivingTownshipEconomies initiative.
“If it were to happen again, I’m stronger, wiser and more knowledgeable.”
Also featured in the book is Lance Ross, a Lamontville, Durban, butchery owner.
“Covid-19 had a negative impact on my business as far as turnover was concerned, and my sales dropped by about 30%.
“The damage and theft incurred during the looting almost crippled my business and amounted to around R700,000. In my opinion in every area where looting occurred, the community was involved to a degree.
“I was faced with difficult choices because I was approached by people looking to purchase what was left of my business and property, but I turned them down.”
Ross retained his business with the funding he received from the NPO initiative.
Ross said he got assurance from the Lamontville community that they wouldn’t stand for a repeat of the 2021 riots.
Takalane Nemangowe, station manager of community-based radio station Alex FM in Alexander, Johannesburg, is also a case study in the book.
He said while recovering from loss of advertising revenue because of the pandemic, they were hit by looters.
“The station was temporally taken off air when its broadcast equipment and related items worth more than R5m were looted and other equipment vandalised.
“It was definitely members of the community, in fact listeners and beneficiaries of Alex FM. It was a great test indeed. Just after surviving months of lockdown and decline in business, it was looting which threatened the entire existence of the radio station ...”
The station was rebuilt with the help of big broadcasters and community-based bodies, among others.
“I feel South Africa is a ticking time-bomb, any time we can experience the events of July 2021 again,” said Nemangowe.
Chef Gift Sedibeng, who owns Sigaculinary restaurant in Alexander, also had to rebuild after Mexican/Kasi eatery suffered more than R100,000 in damages during the riots.
“It was a big setback, and I was heartbroken. But the #RevivingTownshipEconomies initiative helped save my business by making sure I replaced equipment that was looted and stock to start off again.”
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