This is evident through the campaigns run by the City of Ekurhuleni to encourage and promote township economies.

The Tembisan has taken it upon itself to expose the talent and dedication of young people in business. 

Steven Myeni heads up his own pastry company, Dilettivents.

The former Masiqhakaze Secondary School student said he always knew he wanted to start his own company and be his own boss.
“Since primary school I knew I wanted to be my own boss,” said the young entrepreneur.
This hands-on boss is assisted by two young employees, Laurence Nteo (cake designer) and Innocent Molondo (administration and media liaison). Both sacrifice their sleep every day to ensure the success of Dilettivents’ dream.
Steven said he grew up in a family that loves food, and in their house there would always be food and cakes. This love ultimately led to Steven becoming a pastry chef.
He worked for a number of prominent hotels before he ventured into business.
Steven said people these days like personalised cakes as opposed to walking into a supermarket and buying a standard cake.
“That’s where we, as pastry chefs, are rising in abundance. Somebody would call in the morning, order a personalised cake and they get it in the evening,” said Steven.

He regards his business venture as a success and stresses that success depends on how one defines it.
One of his goals is to see Dilettivents growing into a franchise of coffee shops and competing with international franchises such as Starbucks.
“My coffee shop must start here – eKasi in Tembisa,” said the entrepreneur.
“You don’t see coffee shops in the township mainly because people think there is no clientele elokshin for such a product. But go to the suburbs, many of those black people in coffee shops are from the township,” he said.
He said his coffee shop will be targeted specifically at young entrepreneurs, it is going to be a networking space which will offer free WiFi as well.

“Dilettivents is run from home and it shows young people shouldn’t always be discouraged by the unavailability of capital. I started Dilettivents in my mother’s kitchen and today people are responding positively towards my product offering. From that kitchen came my first cake orders, which resulted in more orders,” said Steven.

“Yes some businesses need huge capital but in some business ideas, you can start with what you have. You can start small and build from there,” he said.
Contact Steven on 078 708 7688.

WATCH: Steven in the kitchen

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