Turning porridge into profit

Government assistance played a crucial role in kickstarting Bokang Lehloenya's entrepreneurial journey. Today, this resourceful Free State businesswoman is the proud owner of Wa Rona Food Enterprise, which specialises in the production of the traditional Sesotho porridge known as ‘seqhaqhabola’. Her success wouldn't have been possible without determination, talent and crucial support from various government initiatives.

Upon completing her national diploma in 2021, Lehloenya faced the daunting reality of limited employment prospects. Recognising the need to forge her own path, she decided to use her savings from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowance to start a business.

Fuelled by the encouragement of friends and family, she cultivated her porridge-making skills into her own enterprise. “People would tell me that my porridge was the best they have ever tasted. They recommended that I start my own porridge brand. I decided to give it a try and see how other people would respond. Indeed, the response was good,” she recalls.

The fledgling business received a further R50,000 in funding from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), as well as a donated vehicle courtesy of the Free State Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA).

In March 2022, Wa Rona Food Enterprise was officially launched. With a focus on quality and authenticity, the products quickly gained popularity. Lehloenya now operates her own online store and supplies local retailers in her home town of Welkom.

Lehloenya’s commitment to excellence paid off when Wa Rona Food Enterprise gained accreditation from the South African Bureau of Standards in October 2023. Later that same year, the business was awarded a R100,000 cash prize at the National Presidential SMME and Cooperatives Awards.

Though Lehloenya still operates from a modest setup at home, plans are afoot to expand to a larger manufacturing plant and grow the business well beyond the Free State. Currently employing five people, Lehloenya aspires to do more to empower others. “I want to create more employment opportunities for the youth,” she notes.

As Wa Rona continues to innovate and expand, it’s a testament to South Africa’s potential for economic growth and empowerment.