Meet Senzo Msimango
Senzo is a 31-year-old business owner and a father of two, originally from the rural areas of Nquthu, KwaZulu-Natal. After finishing school, Senzo moved from his hometown to Durban in search of better opportunities. In December 2020, Senzo applied to SweepSouth and received a response within a week. Soon after, he was called in for an interview.
For him, SweepSouth offered the perfect side hustle, allowing him to balance his studies and work. Senzo loved building a network for himself, meeting new people and he loved that the platform allowed him to meet and work with people from different cultures, religions, and communities – so he used the platform as a stepping stone towards his dream of opening his own business. Senzo dedicated 4-5 days a week to working as an outdoor SweepStar, determined to pursue his dream of opening his very own bakery.
During his daily commute to work, Senzo observed the people around him and spotted an opportunity. So he baked a tray of scones and started selling them to fellow commuters. On the very first day, he sold all the scones he baked and even had people asking if he could make muffins too.
To expand his reach, Senzo began selling cupcakes and muffins at nearby schools, recruiting students to sell on his behalf at the nearby schools. Starting with a domestic oven, Senzo baked 50 cupcakes each morning, but he faced challenges like inconsistent baking due to oven limitations and frequent electricity issues. As his business grew, more people came to buy cupcakes at his home to support him so he expanded his recipes but struggled with pricing due to the high cost of ingredients. Sometimes, large orders were too much for him to handle.
“My business remains small but grows every day, and I continue to learn and improve with the hope of owning a large bakery in the future.” – Senzo Msimango
Seeking further support, he approached SweepSouth Foundation for donations to buy a better oven. Together, we were able to raise R5,000, allowing him to buy another small oven. Eventually, Senzo moved from his home to a rented garage, converting it into a workspace for his small bakery. He furthered his skills by attending classes on bread and flour confectionery baking.
Senzo’s dedication and hard work paid off when he participated in the TV reality show “The Taste Master SA” Season 3, winning several challenges and gaining valuable equipment like a dishwasher and cake mixers. In 2022, he was recognised as a nominee for the KZN Youth Business Award.
While working on the SweepSouth platform, Senzo was able to save money, build up his confidence and make valuable connections. These experiences were instrumental in helping him take the bold step towards entrepreneurship. With his hard-earned savings and baking skills, Senzo successfully opened his bakery, turning his big dream into a reality.
Senzo’s journey from SweepStar to a successful business owner is a true inspiration. We are incredibly proud of Senzo’s achievements and honoured to have been a part of his journey. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to many more years of positive impact and hearing more amazing success stories.
Here’s to Senzo, and a decade of dreams!
ALSO SEE: A DECADE OF DREAMS: CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF SWEEPSOUTH
