From Job Loss to Business Owner: How One Woman Started a Kota Business and Became an Estate Agent

Turning Loss into Opportunity

Neliswa Mntungwa, a 37-year-old mother from Pietermaritzburg, lost her job in 2018. Instead of giving up, she started her own business selling kotas (a popular South African street food). Her business, Kota 2 Nice, now temporarily employs five young people.

A New Career Path

Recently, Neliswa also became an estate agent. She works at Wakefields Estate Agents, helping people buy, sell, and rent properties. She says this new role helps her understand how to find good locations for her food business too.

Challenges and Success

Running a business is not easy. Neliswa had to move her kitchen from a youth park to a mobile setup. She also faced problems with finding a good location and understanding leases. But her hard work paid off. In 2024, Kota 2 Nice won an award from the President of South Africa for small businesses.

Advice for Others

Neliswa says losing her job pushed her to follow her passion. She wants to help others who are unemployed by creating jobs and sharing her story. She believes that with determination, anyone can turn a bad situation into a successful career.

This article was originally published on Sowetan.