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.

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Also available on Apple Podcasts.

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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.