Our Viewpoint | Celebrating the daily hustle

At just 23, Nadia Khumalo, from the Velani township in KwaDukuza, has carved out a living using her skills, technology and passion for food. Trained in hospitality and catering, she chose to step away from formal employment and build something of her own, not in a glossy restaurant, but at a modest roadside food stall serving taxi drivers, teachers and neighbours. In doing so, she turned her craft into a meaningful service for her community.

Her growing online following, with over 232 000 followers and more than 4,4 million likes, shows that dreams no longer need to be confined by geography or limited resources in this digital era. Amid South Africa’s deepening youth unemployment crisis, her story stands out not as a fairy tale, but as a grounded reflection of life on the ground. It is proof that creativity, innovation and community-centred entrepreneurship continues to uplift individuals and families, even in the most challenging circumstances.

Her struggles, navigating the workforce, grappling with anxiety and mental health pressures, and questioning her place in a tough economy, are not unique. What sets her apart is initiative: the decision to keep moving forward and to create positive change for herself and her family. Stories like these inspire us with pride and hope. They remind us that innovation often begins with intuition, courage and service, and that the resilient human spirit continues to find ways to rise.