How Precious Massinga Transformed Her Circumstances
Meet Ms Precious Massinga, a woman who never let adversity hold her back. Precious grew up in a rural town and started her entrepreneurial journey building a business and a better life by selling fruit and vegetables. Her business struggled there and despite marrying her husband there, she knew she had to find a way to support her family. So, in 1995 she decided to take a chance and move to Egoli, the “Place of Gold”, to look for better opportunities.
Precious started off as a domestic worker in Rosettenville, grateful for the opportunity. After a few years, she realised her entrepreneurial spirit couldn’t be ignored, and she started selling vegetables again. Four years later, she spotted the next opportunity – selling live chicken.
This was a great business move for her, as buying live chicken, or “hard body”, to prepare at home is a popular food choice in the townships. She built a network of suppliers to ensure that she could negotiate the best price, buying directly from farms around Johannesburg and as far as Randfontein. Kliptown was closer to her market, so she moved her business there.
The start of the real deal
After building a business around selling chicken for three years, Precious found a new opportunity – cooking for hungry commuters. She created a menu that consisted of “ama plati” with a choice of chicken, rice, pap, spinach, and/or red meat. Her restaurant business was a huge success and she was located next to one of the busiest taxi ranks. Precious served hungry commuters on their way to work and taxi drivers looking for a nourishing meal after the gruelling rush hour.
It was during this time that Ms Precious became a Xhantela member.
As with so many of our clients’ stories, municipal works also affected Ms Precious. Upgrades to communal areas are vital for the prosperity of the city. However, if you don’t own the property you trade from, you are bound to be negatively affected, and Precious lost access to her trading space in the taxi rank.
When the taxi rank was closed for maintenance, Ms Precious moved her business to the temporary location provided as a taxi rank. However, when the taxi rank was re-opened, the trouble started. A vigilante group in the community demanded that she pay them a sum of money to access the space where she traded in the taxi rank. They had no right in this regard – only intimidation and physical strength. She knew that paying the “shake-down” would not be a solution. They would just keep coming back, demanding more. She relocated to a busy area in Jabulani, close to the mall and the hospital.
Now, Precious’ business is flourishing, and she is growing from strength to strength. “People come to the mall or the hospital. There are always people walking past here. I have found a home in Xhantela,” she says.
Support from Xhantela
“I am so thankful that I can be part of Xhantela. With Xhantela, I can buy stock every month. Even if things get hard, the money from my Xhantela loan intervenes. Since joining Xhantela, I don’t get broken anymore. I’ve learnt a lot from Xhantela. I have learnt to work with other people and how to run my business.”
She also uses the funds from her Xhantela loan to expand her business and diversify. One of her new ventures is “importing” clothing from Durban and selling it in Johannesburg. She also intends to grow her restaurant further.
Her business has helped her to raise her two children. With the money she earned from the business, she could pay rent. Later, through the proceeds of the business, she built a house. She also sends money home monthly to help sustain the living of those family members she left behind.
We at Xhantela solute you, Ms Precious. Building a business is never easy, and your determination in the face of adversity is truly inspiring. Your business nourishes the bodies and souls of those who visit it, and we are proud to support you in your journey.
Photos by Shornespear Photography