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16 January 2025 - Ntando Hoza

From selling handbags to offering haircuts, there are Witsies out there turning campus corners into mini marketplaces.

The heartbeat of Wits' informal economy pulses through the everyday hustle of resourceful students who have turned their creativity and determination into thriving micro-businesses.

A cut above

David Sedire’s entrepreneurial journey began in his hometown, Polokwane, where he discovered his passion for barbering through YouTube tutorials. “I started practising on friends’ hair, charging R20 to R25,” the 21-year-old Civil Engineering student recalls.

When he came to Wits, he struggled to find barbers who understood his hair type, so he learned how to cut his own hair. “My self-haircuts gained me recognition and now my roommates come to me for their cuts,” he says.?

Chic and unique

YED BOUTIQUE, founded by Yedidyah Alimasi, 22, grew out of the success of her online tutoring side hustle. “I had been saving about 60% of my profits since 2022, but I wanted to invest that money instead of it sitting in the bank,” says the BSc Astronomy and Astrophysics student.

A love for fashion sparked the idea to sell handbags and accessories and after extensive research and planning, YED BOUTIQUE was launched in March 2024, generating a profit of up to R3 000 per month.

Distinction-bound

When Lehlohonolo Mahlangu, an Accounting Science major, noticed his peers struggling due to a lack of adequate academic support, he stepped in, creating the?Distinction Bound Programme, a tutoring initiative helping high school and university students achieve top grades – and distinctions!

“I saw students seeking help but not finding the support they needed,” he says. His programme does more than teach curricula; it provides personalised study tools including exam planners, structured timetables, and time management strategies, empowering students to take charge of their academic journeys.

“It’s about building a strong foundation for educational growth,” he says, emphasising the importance of nurturing independent thinkers. With profits reaching up to R40 000 during exam seasons,?Distinction Bound?is thriving.?“I want to end the narrative that distinctions are rare at university – academic excellence should be achievable for all.”

Nailed it

Thabiso Mgiba, a 23-year-old entrepreneur and founder of TM Beauty_Nails, started her beauty business out of concern for the uncertain job market after graduation. “As a new parent, I needed to create a source of income while searching for job opportunities,” explains Mgiba.

After completing a four-day training workshop with a local nail technician, she began taking clients shortly after graduating. “I initially charged R100 per session, and through word of mouth, my clientele grew,” she adds.

With average weekly earnings of around R500, Mgiba is determined to balance her studies with her entrepreneurial ambitions and significant growth potential for her business.

Expert commentary on student entrepreneurship

While the literature distinguishes between opportunity-driven and necessity-driven entrepreneurship, there is broad consensus that necessity-driven entrepreneurs often serve as a critical source of entrepreneurial talent, says Sikhumbuzo Maisela, a Lecturer in the School of Business Sciences.

Campus-based entrepreneurship offers students an opportunity to pursue their studies while gaining invaluable practical business experience. The various ventures of the students featured here highlight their unique approaches to identifying and addressing market needs.???

• David has capitalised on a gap in the market by offering barbering services that students previously sought off-campus, demonstrating his strong opportunity identification skills. To attract more customers and grow, I advise leveraging social media for more effective marketing to the tech-savvy campus community.???
• Yedidyah's handbag-accessories business demonstrated early success, quickly achieving substantial profit. To leverage her strong business acumen Yedidyah should consider exploring diverse sales channels, such as e-commerce, to expand her market reach and revenue potential.??
• Lehlohonolo has developed a business ideally suited to the university environment, addressing the needs of students in a challenging academic setting with a high attrition rate. His tutoring venture provides vital services to this community. There is potential for expansion to other universities, allowing him to broaden his impact.
• Thabiso may have initiated her business out of necessity, yet this has provided her with valuable experiential learning in entrepreneurship. Her choice of business further demonstrates an ability to identify opportunities, as the beauty and grooming industry is among the most lucrative presently. Hopefully, Thabiso will maintain and grow her business, even if she transitions into corporate employment.

Maisela concludes, “These examples underscore the creativity, resilience, and opportunity identification skills of campus entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of leveraging available resources to maximise business growth and impact.”

• Ntando Hoza is a Communications Intern at Wits University.
• This article first appeared in?Curiosity,?a research magazine produced by?Wits Communications?and the?Research Office. 
• Read more in the 18^th issue, themed #Work, which delves into the evolving nature of work, shaped by societal shifts, technological advances, and equity challenges.