#MakingIt – Vetkoek entrepreneur’s success
Vetkoek entrepreneurs make vetkoek business work.
Many hopefuls pack up and leave their rural homes, heading for Johannesburg to look for opportunities. In 2001 Viwe Mpofu and Sivuyile Khahlela said goodbye to Port Elizabeth and travelled kilometres to settle in Tembisa in search of greener pastures.
“Sivuyile travelled all the way to do a trial test for Tembisa Classic football club and I came here to study at a tertiary institution,” said Mr Mpofu. He is a sound engineering student drop-out. “I left the course because of financial constraints. Thereafter finding a job was difficult. Nothing worked for either of us,” he said. The two got assistance from home for three months’ rent money and to buy groceries.
“We surveyed our area where we were tenants and realised that people love vetkoeks and the demand was high. We knew how to make them. It’s a skill we learnt from our granny while growing up and we decided to give it a shot,” said said Mpofu.
Mr Khahlela said it was easy because things were cheap then. They had to raise a R1 000start the business. They were proven right on their survey as they became a success immediately and 20-litre full vetkoeks was not enough to meet the demand. “We never had a shortage of customers. The problem was the by-laws that prohibit vendors from selling on street corners,” said Mr Mpofu. Vetkoeks are an unattractive business for young entrepreneurs but the duo said there is no room for being shy when a man is hungry.
“We had nothing to fear because people around didn’t know us that well as we were new in the area,” said Mr Khahlela. Due to the growing support and demand from Tembisa community members the two want to expand the business and be able to create employment for many people. Corner Brian Mazibuko and Sam Molele streets is where the business is currently situated.
“We have a challenge of working space at the moment,” said Mr Mpofu. When asked about prospects of getting a job in the formal sector he said that is not in their dreams any more because their vetkoek business is their full-time employment now and it is a success.
“All we have to do is to build what we started,” said Mr Mpofu. The business currently sells vetkoeks and raw dough for people who want bake their own dumplings. “Unemployed people must search within themselves and identify their passions, something they can persistently do despite setbacks. They must try to make a living out of that and overlook all the difficulties and keep going,” said Mr Mpofu.
“I am for what these boys are doing. There are no jobs and this is better than doing crime. They are able to provide for their families and put food on the table for themselves,” said a customer, Phiki Ndlangamandla. For those who want to buy their raw dough they can call 084 425 0253.
