By Sizakele Nduli
As more young people turn to entrepreneurship to impact their communities, they realise that the true beauty is in doing what they love while making a positive difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. This is especially true for Dipuo Makapane from Maserumule Park in Limpopo, who has turned her sweet tooth into a thriving business.
With less than a month in business, her ice cream shop offers a diverse range of treats including milkshakes, waffles, muffins, donuts, cakes, mocktails, burgers, and wings. Prior to starting Delicious Desserts, Makapane, who referred to herself as a “lover of all things sweet”, frequently travelled to nearby towns for her sweet cravings. “I’m from a village where sweet treats like ice creams are not easily accessible and that’s where I identified a gap. If we needed ice creams, milkshakes, or burgers, we had to travel to the nearest town,” she said.
During these trips, she noticed a lack of local dessert options and recognised a high demand. This realisation led her to open her shop. Makapane is a high school educator by profession and used her salary as capital to launch her business. The 27-year-old businesswoman told Vutivi News that apart from struggling to get the right spot with high foot traffic, another challenge was that she received many job applications from local youth, which made it difficult for her to select suitable candidates.
After sleepless nights and careful consideration and research, she managed to find the right spot. The three-week training her employees received means they are able to help with the baking. Also, when certain ice cream flavours are unavailable from suppliers, they make them themselves, showcasing their creativity with various toppings. The business may be in its infancy, but it already employs three staff members and one to relieve the others.
Makapane plans to expand her business by opening two more shops in different locations in the next nine months. She also wants to offer classes to teach local unemployed youth how to start their own businesses. “My business comes as a solution to counteract unemployment and poverty,” she explained. Makapane advises prospective entrepreneurs to start with what they have, build momentum, and learn through experience to achieve their goals. “[This] is a powerful approach to achieving your goals by utilising the resources, skills, and opportunities that are already available,” she said.
