‘Wafer’ is no flake in business

Young entrepreneur making her name for herself in property, hospitality and beauty

NASIPHI Mkiva has been in the trucking business, owns a beauty spa – and now she’s venturing into the hospitality industry, with her first guest house opening tonight in Rondebosch.

The four-unit establishment offers comfortable accommodation, a swimming pool, terrace, braai area, secure parking and a garden.

Mkiva, 34, was born in Mdantsane, outside the Eastern Cape, but grew up in Keiskammahoek. She graduated with an LLB from the University of Fort Hare before practising law at Bax Kaplan in East London for seven years.

The entrepreneurial bug bit her at high school, where she gained the nickname “Wafer” for selling chocolates to supplement her family’s income.

“Initially, I wanted to open a shopping mall in my home town, Keiskammahoek, in 2012. I sent messages on LinkedIn to a few property investors and two of them responded. One of them was Chris Surtees, who has since become my mentor, business partner and friend,” she said.

Surtees and Mkiva launched a trucking company which supplied after-market truck parts and trailer components.

In 2015, Mkiva started a property development business, Mkiva Property House.

“Years later in the property business, I still find myself having to answer whether the properties belong to me or I just manage them. Sometimes people ask to speak to the ‘madam’,” she said.

Mkiva owns several properties and three businesses, one of which is a membership-based beauty spa and salon.

“In the beginning, I struggled with connecting with the industry insiders as a new kid on the block. However, with enough persistence and learning, I managed to find my way,” she said.

NASIPHI MKIVA