Seshego Thabitha Kgopa is the founder and CEO of Smart Detergents, a growing South African cleaning-products manufacturing and supply company built from the ground up.

This episode unpacks:

• Building a manufacturing business from a garage into a growing warehouse operation
• The realities of sourcing raw materials, production, packaging and distribution
• Growing a team from 0 to 10 employees
• Reinvesting in the business and making difficult decisions as an entrepreneur
• Learning from setbacks and navigating the challenges of building a growing business
• Supplying households, businesses and distributors while expanding production capacity
• The importance of entrepreneurship development, pitching and continuous learning
• Creating jobs and opportunities through locally owned manufacturing
• Building Smart Detergents into a recognised South African manufacturing brand

Available on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

#KasiBusinessPodcast #TownshipEntrepreneur #TownshipEconomy #JoinUsForTEA

Guest Bio:

Seshego Thabitha Kgopa is a South African entrepreneur, businesswoman and founder of Smart Detergents. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Science and Social Services, majoring in Community and Health Psychology, Seshego brings together her understanding of people, business and community in her entrepreneurial journey.

She has built Smart Detergents from the ground up, navigating the complexities of manufacturing, sourcing, production, logistics, staffing and customer relationships. What started in a garage has grown into a warehouse-based operation with a team of 10 employees.

Her entrepreneurial achievements include being a Second Runner-Up in the Global Entrepreneurship Award hosted by Polokwane Municipality, a first-prize winner in a 2024 TEA pitching competition, an AWIEF Pitch Competition winner and alumna, as well as a GIBS alumna.

Today, Smart Detergents supplies cleaning products to households, businesses and distributors, while Seshego continues to focus on expanding the company's manufacturing capacity, creating employment and building a proudly South African manufacturing brand.

Her story is one of courage, perseverance and continuous learning. From starting with limited resources to building a growing manufacturing business, Seshego is demonstrating what is possible when entrepreneurs are willing to start, learn, reinvest and keep moving forward.

Her vision is to grow Smart Detergents into a recognised South African brand while creating jobs, supporting other entrepreneurs and contributing to the growth of locally owned businesses.

About the podcast:

Kasi Business Podcast is powered by TEA. A weekly business podcast that seeks to unlock opportunities and practical resource tools to start and grow your business. We also profile corporate leaders, legendary black business leaders, industry practitioners and entrepreneurs.

The podcast is hosted by Bulelani Balabala, an award-winning entrepreneur, business speaker and author.

The podcast aims to unlock opportunities and practical skills for micro-enterprises, startups and small businesses while sharing insight with professionals and policymakers.

For guest enquiries and partnerships:

[email protected]

011 572 1033

#TownshipEntrepreneur #TownshipEconomy #SmallBusiness

Bonolo Monakedi is the founder and owner of Entle Kiddies Hair Salon, a proudly South African children’s hair care brand created to provide young clients with a safe, fun and child-friendly hair care experience.

Inspired by her own experience as a mother and the challenge of finding a salon that truly understood the needs of children with natural hair, Bonolo turned a gap in the market into a growing business with four branches across Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Soshanguve and Theresapark.

This episode unpacks:

- Turning a mother’s personal challenge into a business opportunity

- Building a child-focused brand in the township economy

- Creating safe and welcoming spaces where children feel confident and celebrated

- Growing from one salon into four branches

- Expanding beyond salon services into organic hair care products and accessories

- Building systems and maintaining consistency while scaling

- Building a purpose-driven brand for the next generation

- Turning a local business into a brand with bigger ambitions

Available on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

#KasiBusinessPodcast #TownshipEntrepreneur #TownshipEconomy #JoinUsForTEA #SmallBusiness

Guest Bio:

Bonolo Monakedi is the founder of Entle Kiddies Hair Salon, a proudly South African children’s hair care brand established in 2022. Driven by her experience as a mother, Bonolo identified a gap for a salon that could provide quality hair care in a safe, comfortable and child-friendly environment.

Today, Entle Kiddies has grown to four branches and has expanded its offering to include its own range of organic hair care products and accessories. Through Entle Kiddies, Bonolo is building more than a salon business. She is creating spaces where children can embrace their natural hair, build confidence and feel celebrated.

About the podcast:

Kasi Business Podcast is powered by TEA. A weekly business podcast that seeks to unlock opportunities and practical resource tools to start and grow your business. We also profile corporate leaders, legendary black business leaders, industry practitioners and entrepreneurs.

The podcast is hosted by Bulelani Balabala, an award-winning entrepreneur, business speaker and author. The podcast aims to unlock opportunities and practical skills for micro-enterprises, startups and small businesses while sharing insight with professionals and policymakers.

For guest enquiries and partnerships:

[email protected]

011 572 1033

#TownshipEntrepreneur #TownshipEconomy #SmallBusiness #KasiBusinessPodcast #JoinUsForTEA

Lufuno Rasoesoe is the founder and owner of TOSH Detergents, a proudly South African brand built on indigenous knowledge, sustainability and a commitment to creating social impact.

This episode unpacks:

- Building a business from indigenous knowledge and childhood heritage

- Turning a kitchen hobby into a growing commercial brand

- Building a sustainable business using local raw materials

- Creating opportunities for women and unemployed youth in rural and township communities

- Navigating production, regulations and formal markets

- Building an African brand with ambitions for global impact

Available on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

#KasiBusinessPodcast #TownshipEntrepreneur #TownshipEconomy #JoinUsForTEA

Guest Bio:

Lufuno Rasoesoe is the founder and owner of TOSH Detergents, a proudly South African brand rooted in indigenous knowledge, sustainability and social impact. Raised in Makwarela in Venda, Lufuno built a career in traditionally male-dominated industries before turning her childhood memories of her mother's soap-making techniques into a business during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Today, TOSH Detergents produces cleaning products using local raw materials while creating opportunities for women and unemployed youth from rural and township communities. Lufuno's vision is to build TOSH into a globally recognised African brand that demonstrates how heritage, innovation and purpose can create lasting impact.

About the podcast:

Kasi Business Podcast is powered by TEA. A weekly business podcast that seeks to unlock opportunities and practical resource tools to start and grow your business. We also profile corporate leaders, legendary black business leaders, industry practitioners and entrepreneurs. The podcast is hosted by Bulelani Balabala, an award-winning entrepreneur, business speaker and author. This podcast is aimed at unlocking opportunities and practical skills for micro-enterprises, startups and small businesses while sharing insight with professionals and policymakers.

For guest enquiries and partnerships:

[email protected]

011 572 1033

#TownshipEntrepreneur #JoinUsForTEA

#TownshipEconomy #SmallBusiness

Thobile Dhlangamandhla is the founder and Managing Director of Bathobile Bookkeeping Services, a cloud-based digital financial management and accounting firm based in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, dedicated to helping small businesses and township entrepreneurs improve their financial management and build sustainable businesses.

This episode unpacks:

- Building stronger financial foundations for small businesses
- Why accurate bookkeeping and financial records matter for business growth
- Using digital tools to simplify financial management for township entrepreneurs
- The importance of financial literacy, compliance and cash flow management
- Developing the Siyakhula Bookkeeping App to help entrepreneurs track their finances digitally
- Turning financial knowledge into practical tools that entrepreneurs can apply in their businesses

In partnership with Nedbank Small Business Services, this episode highlights how financial knowledge, digital innovation and practical support can help entrepreneurs make better decisions, strengthen their businesses and unlock opportunities for growth.

Join Nedbank, South Africa's best SME bank and build your business with confidence.

Available on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

#KasiBusinessPodcast #FinancialLiteracy #Bookkeeping #SmallBusiness #NedbankSmallBusiness #JoinUsForTEA

Guest Bio:

Thobile Dhlangamandhla is a dedicated financial management and bookkeeping professional with a strong focus on empowering individuals and small businesses, particularly township SMMEs, through practical financial education and digital solutions.

Through Bathobile Bookkeeping Services and the development of the Siyakhula Bookkeeping App, Thobile is helping entrepreneurs move from manual financial tracking towards accessible digital tools that support better financial management, compliance and business sustainability.

Her work also extends to skills development, financial wellness programmes, compliance readiness and practical training designed to bridge the gap between financial knowledge and real-world application.

About the podcast:

Kasi Business Podcast is powered by TEA. A weekly business podcast that seeks to unlock opportunities and practical resource tools to start and grow your business. We also profile corporate leaders, legendary black business leaders, industry practitioners and entrepreneurs. The podcast is hosted by Bulelani Balabala, an award-winning entrepreneur, business speaker and author. This podcast is aimed at unlocking opportunities and practical skills for micro-enterprises, startups and small businesses while sharing insight with professionals and policymakers.

For guest enquiries and partnerships:
[email protected]
011 572 1033

#TownshipEntrepreneur
#TownshipEconomy
#SmallBusiness

Keletso Lekwakwe is the co-founder of PasswordKid, one of Africa's leading child safety technology companies, dedicated to improving learner safety through innovative digital solutions for schools and parents.

This episode unpacks:

• Building a technology business that solves real challenges in education
• Using innovation to improve child safety in schools
• Scaling an ICT startup in South Africa
• Why entrepreneurs should focus on solving meaningful problems

In partnership with Nedbank Small Business Services, this episode highlights how entrepreneurs can build businesses that create both commercial success and social impact through innovation.

Join Nedbank, South Africa's best SME bank and build your business with confidence.

#KasiBusinessPodcast #NedbankSmallBusiness #JoinUsForTEA

Guest Bio:

Keletso Lekwakwe is the co-founder of PasswordKid (Pty) Ltd, one of Africa's most trusted providers of advanced child safety technologies. With more than five years of experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, he has built a business focused on using technology to create safer learning environments for children across South Africa.

Keletso holds a Bachelor of Science Honours in Information Technology from Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology and has extensive experience within the ICT industry. Through PasswordKid, he is demonstrating how technology-driven solutions can solve real societal challenges while building a scalable African business.

About the podcast:

Kasi Business Podcast is powered by TEA. A weekly business podcast that seeks to unlock opportunities and practical resource tools to start and grow your business. We also profile corporate leaders, legendary black business leaders, industry practitioners and entrepreneurs. The podcast is hosted by Bulelani Balabala, an award-winning entrepreneur, business speaker and author. This podcast is aimed at unlocking opportunities and practical skills for micro-enterprises, startups and small businesses while sharing insight with professionals and policymakers.

For guest enquiries and partnerships:

[email protected]

011 572 1033

#TownshipEntrepreneur #TownshipEconomy #Innovation #Technology #SmallBusiness

Zethu Nyali is the founder and CEO of Zee Organics, an award-winning South African company that creates organic hair and skincare products to address issues like alopecia, dermatitis and acne.Filmed after the TEA Summit & Awards 2025, this episode unpacks:

• Manufacturing wellness products using hemp and indigenous herbs
• Balancing tradition with commercial scalability
• The importance of trusted financial partners for SMEs

In partnership with Nedbank Small Business Services, this episode highlights how small businesses can grow with the right tools, funding and advisory support.Join Nedbank, South Africa’s best SME bank and build your business with confidence.Available on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.#SmallBusinessLegend #AfricanWellness #NedbankSmallBusiness #TEAGuest Bio:Zethu Nyali is the founder and CEO of Zee Organics, an award-winning South African company that creates organic hair and skincare products to address issues like alopecia, dermatitis, and acne. She started the company in 2021 with only R500, using her expertise as a formulation specialist to develop effective products. Nyali is recognized for her entrepreneurship and commitment to empowering others. Founder and CEO: Zethu Nyali is the founder and CEO of Zee Organics, a company that manufactures supplements, vitamins, and organic hair and skincare products.

Business origin: She started the business in 2021 with a R500 investment. The company name is inspired by her own name.

Products: The company develops organic haircare and skincare products to treat conditions like alopecia, dermatitis, eczema, and acne. Expertise: Nyali is a formulation specialist who developed the product range herself.

Recognition: She has won multiple awards, including the Umlazi KZN Pitch Winner award in 2022 and the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2024, for her work in building her brand.

Mission: Zee Organics aims to heal, create confidence, and empower people, with a mission to demonstrate that excellence can come from township economies.

About the podcast:

Kasi Business Podcast is powered by TEA. A weekly business podcast that seeks to unlocking opportunities and practical resource tools to start and grow your business. We also profile corporate leaders, legendary black business leaders, industry practitioners and entrepreneurs. The podcast is hosted by Bulelani Balabala who is an awarded entrepreneur, business speaker and author. This podcast is aimed at unlocking opportunities and practical skills for micro-enterprises, start up, small businesses while sharing insight with professionals and policy makers.

For guest enquiries and partnerships, get in touch with us:

E: [email protected]

T: 011 572 1033

#TownshipEntrepreneur #Kasi #Township

Overview:

Lebohang Skhosana, founder of Toca Essentials, takes us into the world of African herbal wellness, where indigenous knowledge, sustainability and entrepreneurship intersect.

Filmed after the TEA Summit & Awards 2025, this episode unpacks:

• Manufacturing wellness products using hemp and indigenous herbs

• Balancing tradition with commercial scalability

• The importance of trusted financial partners for SMEs

In partnership with Nedbank Small Business Services, this episode highlights how small businesses can grow with the right tools, funding and advisory support.

Join Nedbank, South Africa’s best SME bank and build your business with confidence.

Available on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

#SmallBusinessLegend #AfricanWellness #NedbankSmallBusiness #TEA

Guest Bio:

Ms. Lebo Skhosana is the visionary founder of Toca Essentials, an agro-processing company rooted in the wisdom of African indigenous herbs. Inspired by her great grandmother’s legacy of sustainable living, Lebohang established Toca Essentials in 2021 to bring the power of traditional African herbalism to the world. Through innovative wellness and cosmetic products, she’s on a mission to promote holistic well-being and environmental stewardship.

Toca Essentials isn’t just a business, it’s a movement towards sustainability and a deeper connection with nature.

About the podcast:

Kasi Business Podcast is powered by TEA. A weekly business podcast that seeks to unlocking opportunities and practical resource tools to start and grow your business. We also profile corporate leaders, legendary black business leaders, industry practitioners and entrepreneurs. The podcast is hosted by Bulelani Balabala who is an awarded entrepreneur, business speaker and author. This podcast is aimed at unlocking opportunities and practical skills for micro-enterprises, start up, small businesses while sharing insight with professionals and policy makers.

For guest enquiries and partnerships, get in touch with us:

E: [email protected]

T: 011 572 1033

Overview:Makatu Tshivhula, founder of The Light Candle, shares how a Soweto-based candle business grew into a trusted supplier for leading corporate brands.

Recorded at the TEA Summit & Awards 2025, this episode covers:• Building a premium product brand• Securing and servicing corporate clients• Scaling creative businesses from township markets

In partnership with Nedbank Small Business Services, this conversation reinforces the role of strong banking and advisory support in helping SMEs grow sustainably.

Join Nedbank, South Africa’s best SME bank and take your business to the next level.Subscribe for more Small Business Legend stories.

Also available on Apple Podcasts.

#SmallBusinessLegend #AfricanWellness #NedbankSmallBusiness #TEA

Guest Bio:

Makatu Tshivhula is a young South African entrepreneur and the founder and owner of The Light Candles, a successful candle manufacturing company based in Soweto. He started his business using manual molds and later scaled up production with funding from a silent partner. His business has grown stronger over the years, becoming known as "Africa's First Black Youth-Owned Candle Manufacturing Factory" by some sources.

The business operates from a shop in Pimville, Soweto.The company produces a range of candles, including household, scented, and pillar candles, known for their quality and long burn time (11-12 hours). His candles are popular among churches, traditional healers, event organizers and the general community, especially during periods of load shedding in South Africa.

A key part of Tshivhula's mission is to tackle youth unemployment in South Africa by equipping young people with skills and creating job opportunities as he expands his business.

Through the Small Business Legend Campaign, TEA and Nedbank Small Business Services continue to champion entrepreneurs who are ready to scale.

Join Nedbank, South Africa’s best SME bank.

Zamani Letjane's journey began in 1980 as an HR Practitioner at a private construction company. He later joined the Local Authority’s HR department, where he served for 10 years and became a Trustee of the Local Government Pension Fund, responsible for identifying sites for shopping centres. His 20+ years of experience as a Trustee inspired the launch of Akani Properties in 2005, a 100% black-owned property development and management company.

In 1999, he founded Akani Retirement Fund Administrators which has grown the Municipal Employees Pension Fund (MEPF) from R1.4 billion to over R27 billion in assets. Notable projects include the R950 million Radisson Hotel and Convention Centre in Kempton Park, launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2020, and a new hotel and convention centre in Middleburg, Mpumalanga. Zamani is a true pioneer in property and retirement fund management.

About the podcast:

Kasi Business Podcast is powered by TEA. A weekly business podcast that seeks to unlocking opportunities and practical resource tools to start and grow your business. We also profile corporate leaders, legendary black business leaders, industry practitioners and entrepreneurs. The podcast is hosted by Bulelani Balabala who is an awarded entrepreneur, business speaker and author. This podcast is aimed at unlocking opportunities and practical skills for micro-enterprises, start up, small businesses while sharing insight with professionals and policy makers.

For guest enquiries and partnerships, get in touch with us:

E: [email protected]

T: 011 572 1033

Zibusiso Mkhwanazi is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and Executive Chairman of M+N, CEO of Avatar X and widely recognised as the co-founder of Avatar, one of Africa’s leading black-owned integrated marketing and advertising agencies. His journey from humble beginnings to industry trailblazer is a testament to vision, resilience, and a deep commitment to unlocking African creativity for the world.Mkhwanazi began his entrepreneurial path by investing R2,000 from his mother into the stock market, growing it into R14,000, seed capital that funded his first business, Csonke, a web development company. After merging with a competitor to form Krazyboyz, he helped build one of South Africa’s top five digital agencies. He later partnered with Veli Ngubane to launch Avatar, a through-the-line agency that has redefined the marketing landscape through innovation and inclusive leadership.Under his leadership, Avatar has achieved numerous industry firsts:• Selected by Absa as the first black-owned lead agency for a top 10 brand in Africa• Appointed by the South African Presidency to lead national communications during the COVID-19 pandemic• Expanded to service nine African markets through Absa and Isuzu• Became the first African global agency for a global brand through its partnership with TECNO MobileIn 2024, Avatar won the Small Biz, Big Impact Ministerial Award at the Presidential MSME & Cooperatives Awards. That same year, Mkhwanazi was nominated by MarkLives for Agency Business Leader 2025 and celebrated as an Africa Rising Star. His leadership continues to position Avatar among the top five independent agencies in Africa, with over 200 employees and a turnover exceeding half a billion rand annually.Mkhwanazi is also the author of Business by Grace, a hybrid memoir and entrepreneurial manual. The book achieved #1 and #2 bestseller status at selected Exclusive Books stores, offering insight into his philosophy of faith-driven leadership and sustainable business growth.His accolades include being named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, a finalist for the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Awards, and receiving an entrepreneurial excellence award presented by Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.Beyond business, Zibusiso is a dedicated philanthropist and mentor. He founded the Mkhwanazi Foundation, which empowers emerging entrepreneurs through skills development and mentorship, and established David’s League, a Christian-based mentorship programme cultivating values-driven leadership. He also served as a trustee of NEET, a non-profit that has funded over 4,200 scholarships for underprivileged ICT students.Mkhwanazi’s impact lies not only in the brands he’s built, but in the lives he continues to uplift, championing inclusion, creativity, and African excellence on a global stage.About the podcast: Kasi Business Podcast is powered by TEA. A weekly business podcast that seeks to unlocking opportunities and practical resource tools to start and grow your business. We also profile corporate leaders, legendary black business leaders, industry practitioners and entrepreneurs. The podcast is hosted by Bulelani Balabala who is an awarded entrepreneur, business speaker and author. This podcast is aimed at unlocking opportunities and practical skills for micro-enterprises, start up, small businesses while sharing insight with professionals and policy makers. For guest enquiries and partnerships, get in touch with us: E: [email protected] T: 011 572 1033