In an era where students grapple with hard financial times and navigating between passing exams and earning an income, two ambitious Tshwane University of Technology students Samkelo Shongwe and Innocent Sithole, have taken matters into their own hands.
The duo have established Shongwe & Sithole Electronics, a growing business that specialises in selling headphones, earpods and other electronic accessories. Shongwe & Sithole Electronics Business was established in March 2026.
The two young entrepreneurs identified a demand for affordable and quality electronic products among students and community members.
The business has become a source of income and practical business experience. According to the owners, the business is doing well.
“Selling these products to students was one of our best ideas. The demand for headphones and EarPods on campus is very high. Every week we meet new customers, and many of our previous customers recommend us to their friends. That shows us that people trust our products and service,” said Shongwe.
Running a business has its own challenges, especially since they must balance business and schoolwork.
“It is not easy to balance business and studies, for example if you are out of stock and you have to study for an exam at the same time, so that means you have to work overtime so that we cannot lose customers and still make sure we pass the exams,” Shongwe said.
Despite all the challenges, they remain committed to their business.
Students rely on headphones and earpods for online learning, studying in the library or simply listening to music to calm down between classes.
“Selling these products to students was one of the best ideas, the popularity of headphone and earpods on campus is very high which highlight the demand of our product.” Said Samkelo Shongwe.
Owning a business is not only about making profit but also about bringing joy and satisfaction to customers.
Tshwane University of Technology student Sphelele Mbatha, praised both the quality of the products and the affordability of the prices.
“I bought JBL Premium headphones from them in May, and they are still working perfectly,” Mbatha said. “Their prices are reasonable and well suited for students.”
The partnership between Samkelo Shongwe and Innocent Sithole has made it easier to manage the business, as they share responsibilities and work together to achieve their goals.
“Having a business partner has made things easier for me. I do not have to manage stock alone which can sometimes be overwhelming when we receive large number of orders,” said Sithole.
