Celebrating 30 Years of McDonald’s South Africa

Portia Nondo’s journey from corporate executive to multi-store McDonald’s owner is marked by vision, resilience, and community impact. Her motivation for entrepreneurship was clear: to create more time with her young children while building a purposeful future.

“I thought about where I saw myself in 20 or 30 years,” Portia recalls. “With all the trajectories in my corporate career, nothing excited me. I realised that if I wanted flexibility, purpose, and impact, I had to create my own path.”

She was referred to McDonald’s by a friend who was already an owner-operator and embarked on nine months of intensive training, including the demanding On-the-Job Evaluation. “It was gruelling,” she says. “I worked overnight shifts, cleaned floors and toilets, and learned every role. Coming straight from a corporate office into that environment was humbling. But it shaped me—it taught me leadership, resilience, and the value of understanding your business from the ground up.”

In 2007, Portia opened her first restaurant in Germiston, a new store in a community that had never experienced McDonald’s before. “The first few months were intense. I was a manager, an accountant, a payroll officer, an HR -you name it.

I couldn’t even eat properly at first because I was anxious and exhausted. But I had a bigger vision and knew I had to make it work.”

Financial pressures added to the challenge. Investing her savings and family resources, she had no option but to succeed. “Month after month, I had to invest money into the business, taking nothing out. But I kept going. If I wanted to grow, I needed to persevere.”

Over time, Portia has expanded to eight stores, building strong teams and a culture of excellence. “My secret to growth has been investing in my people. You need a team that buys into your vision and understands the culture and live it. That makes it easier to turn around a new store and achieve success.” A key cornerstone of Portia and her team is their commitment to their faith in God, which they share through communal prayer and praise and worship in the restaurants.

Her vision extends beyond her restaurants, with education forming another pillar of her purpose. Portia founded Girl Unlimited, a community programme guiding girls from Grades 8 to 12 in STEM education, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, mentorship and life skills. Participants gain exposure to careers in engineering, medicine, and aviation, as well as work experience in her restaurants. “These girls often come from difficult circumstances -single-parent households, with limited socio-economic resources”, she explains.

“Supporting them is about empowering young women to create opportunities for themselves and their communities. If you empower a girl, she lifts her family and community too.”

This programme is designed for long-term impact, ensuring participants have real opportunities to pursue tertiary education and careers.

Portia encourages women to see themselves as equals in business. “We have an advantage as nurturers. Nurturing isn’t about being soft. You invest in relationships, drive performance, and build a culture of excellence. Stand firm, aim for best practice, and lift others as you rise.”

From a high-powered corporate career to the rigours of entrepreneurship, Portia has built not only a thriving business but also a platform for upliftment. Through her restaurants, community initiatives, and Girl Unlimited, she demonstrates that success is measured by vision, people, and lasting impact.