From gangster to entrepreneur
FORMER Khayelitsha gangster Khulekani Nyobole has turned his life around and become an entrepreneur.
Nyobole, 26, became a gangster, a drug addict and armed robber at 15 when mugged pupils at school.
“Being raised by a single parent had an impact on my behaviour because I had that anger, knowing that my father was out there but not supporting my mother and my siblings.
“Also we grew up looking at gangsters as role models and we had that thing of wanting to be respected in communities,” said Nyobole
“The first time I did Grade 10, I didn’t study at all. I would just go to school to rob other learners and I would jump the fence to go and smoke dagga. Failing Grade 10 for a second time was a wake-up call for me because deep down I knew this loser I’d become wasn’t the real me.
“I tried really hard to distance myself from criminal activities. I knew I had the brains, so I persisted, even though it wasn’t easy because some of my friends were still in gangs and they bullied me for trying to be a better person.
“When I finally passed matric in 2009, I worked as a cashier and was promoted to supervisor, which motivated me to go to university,” he said.
Nyobole developed a business plan, a corporate identity and product ranges from personal care to cleaning products with help from business experts he partnered with at the New Ventures Studio.
“The idea for Nurturer was to make natural premium products accessible and affordable to all South Africans and delivered right to their doorstep,” said Nyobole. The business involves young people so that they can make their own money and aims to give 20% of profits to the needy. – sandisiwe.ntlemeza@inl.co.za