Journalist turned businessman empowers youth of Gauteng

Lindo Mnisi, a qualified journalist from the village of Dundonald, in Mpumalanga, employs young people in Gauteng. Mnisi moved to Gauteng to pursue his studies in journalism, something he is passionate about, he said.

“I grew up with a single mother and two big brothers. We lived in a mud house, which is typical of rural houses, until 2011 when I went to university,” he told IOL.

He started a hardware company, Andura, after he saw a gap in the market – there were fewer hardware shops where he grew up which meant people had to go far to buy building material.

“I started this business so that people could get their hardware items close by. These are people who are building back-rooms, and renovating their houses. They are constantly in need of hardware supplies, and we decided to bring that solution to them.”

His first shop was located in the busy township of Kaalfontein which is also known for high rates of unemployment.

Today, the business is a success and he has opened two more branches in Ebony Park and Diepsloot.

“I took a different path from journalism in December 2015 to go into full-time entrepreneurship. I started a clothing manufacturing company in Kaalfontein, Midrand, where we manufactured graduation attire for all institutions,” Mnisi explained but that business had its own challenged, which led to him closing shop.

“[We] ran until 2017, when it collapsed, and I had to look for a job again to take care of my then one-year-old daughter,” Mnisi added.

He had to look for a job support his family, and his child – who was just a year when the business shutdown.

Mnisi got a job with a PR and branding agency while he ventured into yet another business. The company was called After12, where he began building rental units in townships in 2020. Having faith in the venture, he quit his job and jumped into full-time entrepreneurship.

He recently published a book titled, The Victim of Circumstances – Life of a Village, to inspire other young people.

Editor’s note: This is a story of resilience. Lindo Mnisi started few business which all failed but that didn’t stop him from persevering until one business idea he had become a success.

Description: This young businessman started a hardware company called Andura, after he saw a gap in the market and also wanted to employ young people in this township he now called home.

Editor: Thato Mahlangu
Project manager: Do4SA