Blogger boosts township businesses
Young blogger helps put PE township enterprises on map
AN inspiring blog about Port Elizabeth’s townships is changing the lives of residents – one post at a time. Khanyisa Melwa’s blog features young, innovative entrepreneurs and artists from townships across the metro.
Melwa, 23, said of his blog Kasifixation: “The narrative of townships is always centred on strikes and social ills but I want to feature the untold stories about the arts, business and people.”
Kasifixation – a clever combination of Kasi, slang for township, and fixation – has gained traction on social media, opening doors for those featured by drawing in sponsors.
Melwa’s main focus is using the creative arts to boost the township economy. He hopes this will drive tourism into the townships and augur well for SMMEs and informal businesses.
The public relations graduate says he wants to provide a platform for entrepreneurs and trendsetters from Port Elizabeth to appeal to the mainstream market while also developing relationships with potential customers outside of the Bay
Bambanani Fresh Art, a leather shoe company owned by Masibulele Matshaya, 27, and Sibongiseni Mnikina, 26, was one such company that benefited from the blog.
They were featured on Kasifixation in August and are now in talks with the Department of Trade and Industry to help develop their business.
They also received countless calls and orders for their product.
“We received a call from the Department of Trade and Industry and they informed us to go to their offices to talk about our product and how they can assist us,” Matshaya said.
Founder and owner of 469 Enterprises, Siyabulela Mandla, 35, created a unique township-inspired craft beer.
His feature on Kasifixation in October fast-tracked coverage with national publications and broadcasters.
“We were approached by various publications and now we have customers from all over South Africa,” Mandla said.
“Our company is centred on the development of the township, in tackling under-utilised spaces and creating opportunities.”
He said his company also had a butchery and a car wash which employed and initiated participation from residents.
Mandla said their Kasi Talks Business programme also provided in-house training to ensure those hired were given new skills that would further equip them in their future endeavours.
“We have a programme called Kasi Talks Business where we teach those we hire about enterprise, creating employment and understanding entrepreneurship. We facilitate and give some sort of probability for success for those we mentor,” Mandla said.
Melwa said he also wanted to look into the redevelopment of townships, from an infrastructure perspective, so as to create improvement on spaces that were under-used.
Creating a market in the township would boost the economy and gradually defeat poverty, he said.