Young street entrepreneur slowly builds his empire
The 26-year-old is a vendor at the Etwatwa taxi rank (Las Vegas) where he sells sweets and snacks on a trolley while wearing colourful outfits and a big smile on his face.
Young entrepreneur Brain Mzwakhe Masuku, better known as ‘Kgali kgali’, has not let his struggles become his identity.
The 26-year-old is a vendor at the Etwatwa taxi rank (Las Vegas) where he sells sweets and snacks on a trolley while wearing colourful outfits and a big smile on his face.
He is always at the taxi rank from 5.30am until around 9am.
Besides being a vendor, Masuku is a clothing designer graduate from the Qedusiza Design School in Etwatwa.
He also studied marketing at the Benoni East College in 2012.
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The jolly youngster lost his parents in 2002 and his brother, Fani Masuku, had to support him financially.
“My brother had his own family to look after and I thought it wasn’t fair for him to also look after me.
“I then decided to be independent and do something to look after myself,” said Masuku.
“I brought my first stock and went to sell at the taxi ranks. That’s how the Kgali Kgali mobile store started in 2010 and I haven’t looked back since.”
Masuku said before he started the mobile store, he was a cashier at various retail stores and that’s when he decided to be his own boss.
“The best salary I get is interacting with my customers who have become family and also making them smile. It is the best feeling,” he said.
“Most young people need to do self-introspection. As individuals, we need to have ambition and a reason to live.
“Live a life to impact someone else and not to impress everyone.”
The Emaphupheni resident said his elegant outfits were inspired by his high school deputy principal, who always looked smart and neat.
“I dress to bless and not to kill,” said Masuku laughing.
“I’ve always wanted to have my own clothing brand and I wish to expand my business so I can create job opportunities for other young people in my community.”
Masuku suffers from epilepsy and he wants to start a foundation to educate people about this illness.
“A lot of people with epilepsy and their families suffer from stigma and discrimination and most people don’t know that early treatment can make a big difference,” he said.
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“I thank God that I was blessed with confidence because a lot of people suffer from low self-esteem.
“If you want to succeed in life, you need to have an attitude of a lion. Go out there and hunt so your dreams can be fulfilled.”
Masuku would appreciate help to register his business and the epilepsy foundation and is also in need of fabric sponsorship.
If you can help, contact Penelope Masilela at the City Times via email, penelopem@caxton.co.za
