When friends Mpho Serabele and Dimakatso Ngoveni started their poultry farm, Twin Chicks, they did so to ensure their future generations would have financial security. They both came from underprivileged backgrounds and were determined to break the cycle of poverty with their business. “We firstly wanted to prove to people that it was possible for women to work together and become successful together. This was very important for us because women tend to struggle with supporting one another,” Serabele told Vutivi News.
While Ngoveni added: “We also wanted to make sure that our children and their children and their children’s futures were secure so that they never have to struggle as we did.” Ngoveni is a clinical psychologist with her own practice and Serabele is a banker. The women, who are both from Johannesburg, financed their business from their own pockets last year. “It was difficult for our partners because we had to explain to them that we would be spending money which would normally be spent for our households for the farm,” Serabele said.
The farm is based in the North West and sells its products mostly in Gauteng-based areas like Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni. It provides live chickens, slaughtered and packed chickens, eggs and chicken parts, including intestines, innards and chicken feet. Their farm employs three people, and it currently focuses on breeding broilers. The pair explained that even though they were friends, they had learned to separate business from pleasure.
“We enjoy having each other as business partners because we are not hesitant to point out to each other when the other one is slacking,” Serabele said. “We also know how to pick each other up and encourage each other during tough times,” she said. One of their initial struggles was dealing with difficult customers and employees. “We would find customers want to order, but once the products were delivered, they would really make it difficult to pay us,” Serabele said.
“We now no longer deliver orders without payment. “We also had to contend with employees that would not see the vision of the company and do us wrong, knowing that the company is not theirs.” However, getting their own land had been a major boost for the business. “Being able to own land at such an early stage for our business is a huge achievement because it is known to be a difficult thing to secure especially in the agricultural sector,” Ngoveni said. Their next short-term goal is to venture into breeding layers. “Right now, we want to focus on mastering the art of breeding broilers,” Serabele said.
