Even though Mokgadi Pheta grew up in a village, it did not stop her from dreaming big. Her sights were locked on entrepreneurship and she invested her time, education and money to turn her dreams into a reality.
Pheta, who is from Moletjie outside Polokwane, told Vutivi News that she launched Divine Beauty Bar in Seshego in August last year. It offers a range of procedures, including microblading and ombré brow services for eyebrows.
“We also apply eyelashes, provide derma-cleaning (deep facial cleansing) and hydrogel facial mask services, micro-needling and manicure and pedicure services,” she said. Pheta said that before she opened her beauty shop, she completed her National Diploma in Business Management Studies at Capricorn Further Education and Training College in Polokwane in 2019.
She said that she chose beauty because she wanted to help women look their best for all occasions. “I invested time and money, attended training for the different components of my services, and came back and started my business,” she said.
Pheta told Vutivi News that she did not apply for start-up capital for her business, but she was able to afford equipment from her profits. “It’s not easy to operate during Covid-19 because people don’t have money and some try some of these services at their homes. But marketing through social media has become crucial to the survival of my business,” she said.
Another concern was load-shedding. “Recently I was busy with a customer when the power went out,” Pheta said. “The customer, who travelled from Lebowakgomo, waited for an hour and when it didn’t come back on, I had to refund her, and this has caused my profits to take a hit.”
Pheta said it was time for the state to provide alternative sources of energy. “I believe the government should install solar electrical systems for small businesses so that we can lessen the profit strain during load-shedding because all of my equipment operates only electronically,” she said.
Despite these challenges, the businesswoman said that she was well on her way to achieving her goals.
“I plan on having a bigger salon in Polokwane that can create employment in the beauty sector… So many people are qualified beauticians but cannot find jobs,” she said. “I have also started teaching my services this year and have been teaching four students since the beginning of the year, and I plan on having a beauty academy where I can teach what I know.”
