From helping her mother make ends meet at thirteen to overcoming the hurdles of the pandemic, Nosipho’s journey to becoming a market owner is nothing short of inspiring!
Shongweni, South Africa (09 March 2026) – From as young as 13 years old, Nosipho knew she had to work hard to get by in life. She used to help her mother with washing glasses and cleaning at a pub so they could earn enough to keep the household afloat.
“From there, I continued to help my mom and started cooking and cleaning at a BnB. I knew from a young age that I would never get the opportunity to go to university. Having a mom who was single, four siblings and limited resources, I knew I had to work twice as hard as anyone else around me,” Nosipho shares.
In the kitchen and creating meals was where she felt most alive, and later channelled that passion into a vetkoek business, which was going well until the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
“As a single mom myself to three girls and a foster mom to three orphaned boys, this was a massive blow.”
But things looked up for the hardworker the moment she met Ingrid, while relieving her mom as her house cleaner.
“At the time, she [Ingrid] had just taken over the vetkoek stand at the Shongweni Farmer’s Market (SFM), re-branded it as “Mzansi Village” and needed help,” Nosipho explains.
Nosipho recalls her exciting first day at the market.
“I couldn’t stop smiling, and I remember thinking I had never seen so many white people in one place! I felt my spark coming back, and I felt like I belonged there.”
She continued working at the market stall for four years, familiarising herself with all aspects of the business – preparing for a life-changing pivot she never saw coming!
“Ingrid offered me the opportunity of a lifetime when she decided to move in a different direction and offered me Mzansi Village,” she shares on the incredible journey.
Nosipho has been the proud and happy owner of Mzansi Village for a year now, where she serves flavourful food with a big smile every Saturday at the A17 stall.
“I am a very proud business owner, and I could not be more grateful to Christine, Vanessa, Margy and all the other traders of the SFM family, for their endless support and encouragement on this beautiful journey!”
From taking on cleaning jobs at thirteen to owning her own stall at Shongweni Market today, Nosipho’s journey is a beautiful reminder that a little grit, a lot of heart and a lifelong passion can truly change one’s circumstances and path.
Sources: The Shongweni Farmers & Craft Market
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