DJ by night, pizza man by day

Estimated reading time: 9 minute(s)

Photo: supplied

A musician by heart and businessman by passion Koos Sekanka from Seabe in Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality, Mpumalanga says he hopes to one day be counted among the successful business people who started everything from the ground with no experience or big financial injection.

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Growing up in a small village where there is less development and high unemployment Sekanka said he had always wanted to start a business of his own but just didn’t what business exactly to start. Sitting at home unemployed during a global pandemic and hard national Covid-19 seems to have been a blessing in disguise to Sekanka who said besides not knowing where to start, he was also shy and embarrassed at times to share his ideas with other not knowing what would the response be.

“I first started by registering my company in 2017 named after my late mother “Moleufi pty Ltd” while I was still in school where I was providing entertainment equipment, but things didn’t really go as planned and business was slow but I was still hustling with my DJing services as well.”

“Fast-forward to 2020 I had this idea of opening a pizza business but the problem was that I couldn’t bake that is when I decided to take baking lessons to learn more about the art of baking.”

It is said that for the past 5 or more years, pizza has been one of the fastest growing fast food businesses in South Africa ranking in number two (2) out of 5000.

It is also said that this could probably because one can also do it at the comfort of their homes but the tricky part comes in making money out of it.

Even after getting the proper knowledge, Sekanka said he still lacked the courage to bring the idea to live but all thanks to his friend Sphamandla Khumalo who encouraged him to start and he says Khumalo was one of his customers.

He said he first started making the first pizza at his home and got positive feedback from his father and uncle who both have a long rich knowledge with making pizza and baking.

“Khumalo kept his promise after tasting the pizza, he was one of the people to promote my product on Facebook until I started receiving orders. Everything started during the hard lockdown in June 2020 when everyone was home and people would call to place orders I would walk to deliver on door myself.”

“I moved the business out of my home so I can expand and reach more people because the feedback has been positive and I need to show people that this is not a hobby I want to grow beyond my village and hopefully create something not only me but my village would be proud about.”

He added that he wants to open more branches seeing that the demand is increasing daily and hopefully start franchises.

On his menu he also has duck wood and a yoghurt which he produces himself, among others.

“Having to repeat my matric after failing the first time, I knew from there that corporate is not for me and I have to stand up and do something with my life. I went back and passed, tried taking engineering after matric but I wasn’t passionate about it.”

“I then went for sound engineering all thanks to my uncle who gave me the best advice and foundation to my DJing career.”

Sekanka managed to create more than three jobs for his peers whom he said he thanks everyday because they keep the business going during times when he is not at his best.