By Buziwe Nocuze
- The unemployed woman from the Eastern Cape got tired of asking people for money to make copies of her CV.
- She now sells umqombothi from her home, charging from R15 and using the income to support her two young children.
A 39-year-old graduate from the Eastern Cape has turned her home into an umqombothi tavern after spending years sending out CVs with no response.
The woman had to ask people for money to make copies of her CV. She got tired of asking and knew people would eventually stop helping her.
She first wanted to sell sweets at the taxi rank but realised she would need transport money every day. She decided to sell umqombothi instead because she could make it at home and customers would come to her.
“This was the perfect thing for me to sell, and I am happy that the business is doing well and people loved it. I started selling it and I didn’t post on social media but I put a cloth as a sign for people to know that I am selling it,” she said.
She got regular customers immediately. They arrive as early as 10:00am and some stay until 19:00. She charges from R15.
“I am glad that I have started this business because besides having regular customers who hire people to do their yards and gardens they buy umqombothi from me,” she said.
She gives credit to customers she trusts. Some customers hire her to make umqombothi for their birthday ceremonies.
“Some people don’t know how to do it, so most of my customers when they are having ceremonies that are not too serious ask me to do it for them. I charge a different amount depending on how much they want me to do,” she said.
She uses the income to support her two children. She buys school uniforms, food and pays her insurance company with the money she makes.
Pictured above: Umqombothi.
Image source: Woolworths Taste
