Groutville entrepreneur Ntombenhle Zungu’s spicy chillies are hot sellers

Tough times do not deter Groutville entrepreneur Ntombenhle Zungu from remaining a dream-chaser.

Just two months into her business of making and selling curried chillies, word is spreading fast in KwaDukuza about her tasty product.

Born and raised in Emnyundwini, Groutville, Zungu got the idea from her family’s love for braai meat and chilli sauce.

She named her business M.D’s Curried Chillies in honour of her late father, MD Zungu.

“We really enjoy braai meat and always have chilli sauce with it. I used to make some for my family and they loved it, which sparked the idea of perhaps making money from it.

“In August this year, I made my first batch and sold it to friends and family. They told others and word began spreading,” said Zungu.

Her journey to this point has been full of tough challenges though.

In 2021, she lost both her parents within a week. The grief made her quit her job, later hoping to find a new beginning as she rediscovered her dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

Starting small, Zungu faced problems with packaging her product and not having enough tools. But her chillies became increasingly popular.

She used social media and attended charity events to display and promote her brand further.

She now sells at least 20 jars every week and expansion is on the cards. Challenges such as expensive jars and not having enough cooking equipment won’t stop her, she says.

Customers love the super spicy taste and keep coming back for more.

Looking ahead, Zungu eventually wants her own shop and even a little factory to increase output. She also plans to produce different flavours.

With her family’s support, especially her two brothers, Zungu is working hard to make M.D’s Curried Chillies find a shelf in every home.

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