When Malebo Moloto’s online appliance business collapsed during the Covid-19 pandemic, he lost about R150,000 and found himself wondering whether he should give up entrepreneurship altogether.
Instead, he chose to start over.
In a story by Nandi Ntini for Sowetan, Moloto shares how one simple piece of advice changed the course of his life: stop guessing what people want and ask them. He surveyed residents in his community to understand how they spent their grocery budgets, and the answers pointed him towards vegetables.
Although he knew nothing about the fresh produce industry, Moloto spent weeks learning how the market worked before selling vegetable packs door-to-door in Kibler Park.
As customers began requesting peeled and chopped vegetables to save them time, he spotted an opportunity. What started as a small operation in the back room of his home, with his mother helping him wash, peel and prepare vegetables late into the night, gradually evolved into Thumbchef, a business supplying fresh-cut vegetables, salads and fruit packs to eight supermarkets.
Today, Thumbchef employs 10 people, creating sustainable jobs while generating a monthly turnover of more than R300,000. The business has grown from serving individual households to supplying major retailers, proving that small ideas rooted in community needs can grow into thriving enterprises.
Moloto’s resilience was tested again when he approached a supermarket with his products. Instead of rejecting him outright, the store manager explained everything that was missing, from proper packaging and branding to barcodes. Rather than walking away discouraged, Moloto went home, learnt what was required and returned with a professional product.
His first supermarket order was worth just R200.
Today, that same determination has helped him secure supply agreements with eight supermarkets, creating opportunities not only for himself but also for the people he employs.
Despite his success, Moloto has not forgotten where he started. He hopes to reintroduce affordable door-to-door vegetable deliveries in Soweto, making healthy food more accessible while expanding his business and creating even more employment opportunities.
Moloto’s story is proof that failure does not have to be the end of the journey. With resilience, a willingness to learn and a commitment to solving everyday problems, he turned a devastating setback into a growing business that is creating jobs, supporting families and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Description:
After losing R150,000 when his first business collapsed during the Covid-19 pandemic, a Soweto entrepreneur rebuilt from scratch, creating a business that now employs 10 people and supplies eight supermarkets.
Editor’s Note:
Every successful business has a story, but not every entrepreneur has the courage to start again after losing everything. Malebo Moloto’s journey is a powerful reminder that resilience, listening to customers and creating solutions that meet real community needs can transform failure into opportunity while creating jobs and strengthening local economies
