Entrepreneurs inspired to shine
● Helping clients put best foot forward pays off for airport shoe-polishing business
To passersby he might seem to be a humble shoe-shiner, but in truth Zanokhanyo Makata has been building his business for years at the feet of some of the country’s top businessmen.
Speaking at the premises of Siyakhanya – the shoe-shining business he co-owns with Siyasanda Ludidi, 30, at the Port Elizabeth International Airport – Makata, 33, said it was his customers who motivated him to become an entrepreneur in his own right.
The business was born in 2015, through the gap left by the previous shoe-shining business at the airport – which had employed Makata and Ludidi.
Today, it is going from strength to strength, having undergone a massive redesign last month and expanded its services to include shining laptop bags, handbags and running shoes, and even selling shoelaces and socks.
“We’re also busy designing our own brand of socks,” Makata – who was born in Mount Frere but grew up and still lives in Kwazakhele – said.
“Our big goal is to go out, because most of our regular customers are saying we must try to be outside [the airport] as well.
“A regular customer of ours came all the way from Jeffreys Bay [recently], with her shoes and her husband’s and children’s shoes.
“So our goal is to open a dry cleaner and also shine shoes, and there are some other business ideas that we have, but first we want to make sure that we are mastering this one.”
Makata credits several customers for their success, including Kenton-on-Sea businessman Mark Moses, who encouraged them to think bigger.
Moses assisted the pair financially in the redesign of the business – which was executed by interior decorator Natalie Raw – and guided them on other business processes.
“When I first started working here, I was doubting myself,” Makata said.
“After matric I studied financial information systems at Unisa, but it was challenging because it was an international curriculum, so I ended up failing and dropping out.
“To start here was difficult, because I thought I didn’t have a future.
“[When I met these businessmen], they were always saying to me that it’s good to have your own business, and that the most important part is to move forward and have a vision,” he said.
“It was always in my mind [to start my own business], and my customers gave me a lot of motivation [to do it].
“When our former employer’s contract was about to end, we submitted our proposal.”
For this process, Makata and Ludidi had help from businessmen from two prominent financial services firms.
“It’s not easy [to run the business], but we manage and keep on trying, and it is going much better now.”
Siyakhanya has about 36 customers a day, Makata says.
“The best part of the job is to communicate with and meet different types of people, and learn [from them] – every day I learn something new because I’m meeting [them].”
There is still one elusive figure he would like to see in one of Siyakhanya’s chairs: “During 2010 we were looking forward to the president coming [for the Soccer World Cup].
“We [have communicated] with [many] politicians, but we’d love to say something to [President Cyril Ramaphosa].”
Though running the business is a challenge that requires a lot of time and self-discipline, Makata says he stays motivated because of Ludidi’s support, as well as their loyal customers.
“The relationships I have with the customers, you wouldn’t believe it.”
Moses praised Makata and Ludidi for their dedication.
“They work very hard. The biggest reward [from my involvement] is to see the smiles on their faces,” he said.
“I think more people [should assist other entrepreneurs] and have the pleasure of watching them grow.”
‘Our goal is to open a dry cleaner and also shine shoes, and there are some other ideas’
Zanokhanyo Makata
SIYAKHANYA CO-OWNER