Talent not enough,

It’s not easy starting out – and the odds are stacked against many youth entrepreneurs. speaks to four young South African’s who have made it

SOUTH Africa is blessed with a vibrant, active and diverse youth. They are, however, not without their challenges. High unemployment, the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and inequality are some of the biggest. These indicate it is not easy to be young in South Africa. Yet, there are those who have done well. French-German theologian Albert Schweitzer once said, “Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful”. What Nkululeko “Page” Ngwenya, Nomfundo Mkhize, Samantha Johns and Kiro-Lee Pillay have in common is they have all pursued what made them happy, and seem to be succeeding. They discovered their passion at an early age and wasted no time pursuing it. Mkhize, 24, started as a radio presenter at uKhozi FM a ged 16. She says the chances she’s had as a result have made her a better citizen. She credits star ting her career early as influencing the person she’s become. Pillay, 19, the founder of Yahweh Custom Conce pts, a company that specialises in bespoke decorative screens and custom tables, says “I’ve always been ambitious, I’ve always had the drive to turn one rand into two rand. College was not challenging enough and I knew I had to do something to find contentment. I couldn’t allow my age to deter me. I have had no regrets.” These young South Africans confirm that the journey to success is not easy, but they adopted a positive attitude. Johns, 28, in communications at Sappi’s eMkhomazi plant, says “one of the biggest challenges as a young woman in the corporate world is earning credibility. You need to work extra hard being assertive and standing your ground in a traditionally maledominated arena. “Leading projects or teams to accomplish goals can be tough at times, but what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” Pillay says, “it’s challenging being a young entrepreneur because people don’t take you seriously because of your age. Further more, things don’t always go the way you want them to. My faith helps me.” Dedication is a prerequisite if you are serious about your ambitions. Poet and co-ordinator at the Playhouse Company, Ngwenya, 23, says, “I made my choice knowing that as you go up higher in the performance ar ts, there are fewer success stories. “I realised that talent is not enough, you have to put your whole weight behind your passion. Academia is important, education offers valuable skills that cannot be taken away from you. It opens your mind and allows you to grow.” Ngwenya strongly advises those interested in pursuing a career such as his to put measures in place to ensure g rowth and expand within the industry. “I’m about to do a literature degree which will enable me to grow my craft and lay the foundation for me to teach