Poultry farmer and catering entrepreneur Sharon Ramoganyane from Ga Maila Mapitsane village in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, runs two successful businesses rooted in passion and a desire to uplift her community.
Through Shaz Kitchen, Ramoganyane provides catering services for various occasions, including celebrations, corporate events, funerals, community gatherings and special functions. Alongside the catering business, she operates a poultry farm focused on producing quality poultry products.
“I have always had a passion for food and serving people. Catering allowed me to turn that passion into a business while creating memorable experiences for clients,” she said.
Ramogayane explained that the poultry business was inspired by market demand.
“The poultry farm was inspired by the growing need for chickens and eggs and the opportunity to contribute to local shops while building another sustainable income stream. My motivation has always been to create employment opportunities and prove that businesses can grow even from rural communities,” she said.
Ramoganyane said her first business was Shaz Kitchen before venturing into poultry farming.
“I started with Shaz Kitchen first because cooking and catering were areas I already enjoyed and understood. As the business developed, I realised the importance of diversifying and creating additional opportunities within the food industry,” she said.
Like many entrepreneurs, she has not had an easy journey.
“Starting was not easy. Challenges were building a customer base and managing operations with limited resources. In poultry farming, production costs and maintaining consistency were additional challenges,” Ramogayane said.
She said persistence and a long-term approach helped her overcome these obstacles.
“I overcame these obstacles through persistence, learning continuously, reinvesting profits back into the businesses, and remaining focused on long-term goals instead of immediate success,” she added.
Across both businesses, Ramoganyane said she currently employs approximately 40 people and also creates temporary opportunities when demand increases.
“Creating jobs has allowed local community members to gain income and work experience. Supporting people from the community is important to me because business growth should also uplift others,” she said.
A strong vision has guided her decision to continue building and expanding her businesses.
“I believed that growth requires courage and that opportunities come from taking calculated risks. My vision has always been bigger than just running a business; I wanted to build something sustainable that creates value and inspires others, especially women and young people from rural areas,” she said.
Reflecting on her achievements, Ramoganyane mentioned that seeing her businesses grow and positively impact others remains one of her greatest rewards.
“One of my proudest achievements is building businesses from the ground up and watching them grow over the years. Seeing satisfied customers, creating employment, and watching the business grow continues to motivate me,” she said.
She encourages aspiring entrepreneurs not to be discouraged by humble beginnings.
“Do not underestimate your beginnings. Start with what you have and remain consistent. There will be challenges, but persistence and discipline matter. Keep learning, stay focused, and do not be afraid to ask for guidance. Your background should never limit your ambition,” stated Ramogayane.
Looking ahead, she plans to continue growing both businesses and creating more opportunities and bridging the youth unemployment gap.
“I plan to continue growing Shaz Kitchen and expand the poultry business to serve more customers across Limpopo and beyond. I also aim to create more jobs and explore additional opportunities in the food and agricultural industries. My long-term goal is to build strong, sustainable businesses that make a lasting impact,” she concluded.
