Dedicated to change his childhood experiences, the Daveyton young entrepreneur Mpho Mahlangu fought against all odds to open his establishment’ ‘The Blaze Foods’.
The 24-year-old entrepreneur describes his journey as one of resilience, hope, and a burning desire of changing his circumstances.
“I was raised by a single-mother whom I draw inspiration from. We lived in a two-room shack along with my three brothers. Growing up, life was incredibly tough. Our shack was in such poor condition that the floor was just bare dirt, unplastered and muddy whenever it rained. The roof leaked constantly, and it often felt like we were living outside. Inviting friends over was out of the question I was too embarrassed to show them the state of our home,” said Mpho.
“Hunger was a frequent visitor in our household, especially after my mother lost her job. Things became so bad that I often went to bed on an empty stomach. Despite the challenges, I managed to complete my matric in 2019 at Unity Secondary School. By then, I had no aspirations of pursuing tertiary education because I always wanted to be my own boss. However, without any resources to start a business, I reluctantly applied to universities, only to face rejection after rejection.”
Life continued to be strenuous for Mpho even after he went an extra mile of going to Durban in 2020 to work at an old age home.
“I moved to Durban to live with my older brother Martin and his wife. I found a job at an old age home, but the work left me unfulfilled and frustrated. I knew I had more to offer—I just didn’t know how to start. To supplement my income, I became a runner in Durban’s CBD, buying clothes at wholesale prices and reselling them. The hustle was exhausting and barely sustainable,” he said.
“By 2021, I quit the old age home job and the reselling business and returned home in Daveyton. Things were worse than ever. My brothers and I now lived in a one-room shack, so cramped that my mother had to move to Durban because there was no space for her. We shared one bunk bed between the four of us, and I spent most of my days alone in that tiny room, feeling worthless and defeated. Depression set in, and at my lowest points, I contemplated suicide. But the calls from my mom, brother, and cousin gave me enough hope to carry on,
“One night, I woke up with an unbearable pain on my neck and was later diagnosed with high blood pressure caused by renovascular disease. There were also concerns about cardiovascular complications, and not long after, I suffered an angina attack. My brothers had to call a private ambulance when the public service never arrived. This near-death experience further fueled my resentment of our poverty stricken life,” Mpho shared.
Amid all this turmoil, he held on to his dreams. He started writing down business ideas and refining a plan for a food production company. His mother suggested adding spices to his original idea of selling hot sauce and atchar, which seemed like a great fit.
“In 2023, things took a turn when a woman named Matlaka introduced me to a learnership opportunity. Determined to change my circumstances, I saved every cent I earned during the program. By 2024, I had finally saved enough to bring my dream to life. With limited resources but a strong vision, I launched The Blaze Foods, the first and only food production company in Daveyton,” he said.
Mpho mentioned that the journey has not been easy but worth every sweat.
“I designed my own packaging and labels, often borrowing equipment like laptops to complete my work. On one occasion, I stayed awake for two days straight to finish designs before returning the borrowed laptop. Despite these challenges, I filled a gap in the local market by offering products like hot sauces, spices, natural herbs, honey, and atchar.”
Today, The Blaze Foods is up and running. While his familys’ living conditions have improved slightly. They have now moved into a proper house and his fight to grow this business continues.
“Every step has been a struggle, but my love for food and my commitment to changing my life and inspiring others keep me going.
“This is more than just a business; it is a symbol of hope, perseverance, and the belief that even the toughest conditions can be overcome with determination. My story is far from over, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come,” he ended.
By Simphiwe Nkosi
