Local businesswoman Phumulile Mkhonza has trained 476 community members in Rocky Drift through an empowerment initiative launched in October 2025.

Mkhonza, the founder of PSD Scent Perfumes (Pty) Ltd, said she saw high unemployment in her community and felt compelled to train others.

Mkhonza provides skills to these upcoming business owners through training sessions covering customer service, marketing and customer complaints.

Mkhonza shines in Kasi SME competition

Mkhonza is the Standard Bank Kasi SME Mpumalanga regional winner and represented the province in the national competition in which she achieved third place.

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She said after her regional victory, she attended training where she learnt new skills. “I learnt how to sell and how to pitch what I am selling to the right customers. I will be sharing this knowledge with the people that I am training because this has made an impact for me.”

Advice for young entrepreneurs

Mkhonza said her message to young people doing their best in small businesses is that they should seek help and ask questions.

“Don’t work alone, reach out to others. The unemployment rate is high and don’t give up on what you are doing.”

Platform supports township growth

The Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit and National Pitch Challenge has become one of South Africa’s leading platforms dedicated to unlocking the growth potential of township businesses and entrepreneurs.

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This year’s event brought together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, policymakers and business development partners under the theme “Commercialising Kasi: Unlocking Competitive Township Businesses”.