Alex entrepreneurs defy unemployment against all odds
In a country grappling with joblessness and poverty, Alex entrepreneurs are determined to find noble ways to make a living.
In a country where unemployment sits at a staggering 31.9%, many have lost hope of getting a job.
But in Alexandra, a resilient group of entrepreneurs refuses to surrender to statistics. Instead, they have carved their paths and are determined to turn hardship into opportunities.
Read more: Resolute entrepreneurs fast-food franchise in Alex
Abraham Mange, a vegetable vendor for nearly a decade, said he started his business to reduce his reliance on employers. He said given the instability of contract work, it was difficult for one to find job security.
“With contracts, you work, and when it ends, you stop,” he added. “But with my business, I don’t stop. No Sundays, no Saturdays. I work every day. The money is not always enough, but at least I get enough to do what I like to do.”
For Nhlamulo Hlungwani, another vendor on Watt Avenue near Pan Africa Shopping Centre, selling fresh and meticulously chopped spinach is not just a side hustle; it is a means of survival. He said job scarcity encouraged him to do something to put food on the table.
“I am not working, because I do not even earn a salary. But I use whatever little amount I make here to buy clothes and food. It is difficult, but I understand that it is hard to find employment. Since jobs are scarce, I had to start selling this.”
While venturing into entrepreneurship might provide an escape from joblessness and poverty, it also comes with its challenges. Nkhensani Baloyi sells stylish bucket hats and traditional attire on 2nd Street near the shopping centre. She said sometimes she faced the brutal reality of an unpredictable market, but she still faced these challenges head-on to sustain a business she had been running for 10 years.
“You can never be sure how much you will make. So, you should always have a backup plan, so that you will know what to do when the business is slow. I chose products that won’t perish. Even if sales are slow today, I can sell tomorrow without losses,” she noted.
Beyond vegetables and stylish clothes, these entrepreneurs sell hope. They a living proof in Alex that even in the toughest economies, determination can build a livelihood.
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