EThekwini informal trade facilities hailed for addressing unemployment

 

EThekwini informal trade facilities hailed for addressing unemployment

NONDUDUZO NGCONGO

MANDISA Gwexa, 26, from Mariannhill is proof that opportunity and determination can transform lives. Once an unemployed Environmental Management graduate, she turned her circumstances into motivation and today, she is an award-winning entrepreneur and employer.

After her internship in the private sector ended with no job prospects on the horizon, Gwexa decided to create her own opportunity after seeing informal trading spaces advertised by eThekwini Municipality. ‘’I realised that my lack of employment wasn’t the end, it was the beginning of something new,’’ she said.

In 2021, she started Mandisa Nailed It, a beauty salon specialising in nails, hair, and eyelashes, in KwaNdengezi. Her journey truly transformed when she was allocated formal trading space by eThekwini Municipality through its Informal Economy Support Programme. She applied for a trading stall.

‘’Securing that space was a game changer for my business. It gave me dignity, stability, and confidence to grow.’’

Gwexa praised the Municipality for its continuous training for small businesses, access to funding, and mentorship opportunities. ‘’The Municipality didn’t just give us space, they equip us to succeed,’’ she added.

From humble beginnings, Mandisa Nailed It has become a community hub, Gwexa now employs eight people, six full-time and two part-time and has trained more than 40 aspiring nail technicians, many of whom have gone on to start their own businesses.

She was recently awarded the Youth-Owned Informal Business Award at the 2025 eThekwini Municipality Informal Trade Awards.

‘’Winning this award has further elevated my business and has shown me that hard work pays off. I encourage other young people to apply for the opportunities government provides. I am excited to continue growing my business,’’ she said.

Chairperson of the City’s Economic Development and Planning Committee Councillor Thembo Ntuli said stories like that of Gwexa’s show the value of investing in the informal economy and small business. ‘’When small businesses thrive, communities thrive hence the Municipality will continue with its support of small, medium and micro-sized enterprises,’’ he said.