ART MEETS AMBITION: THEMBELIHLE SHEZI, THE POET AND ENTREPRENEUR REDEFINING CREATIVE BOUNDARIES.
Thembelihle Shezi, DUT alumnus and founder of The Joy-Arta, hails from Umbumbulu, KwaMgugu in Nsimbini Pholas. She is a poet, and the Founder and owner of a catering company called The Joy-arta. She attended KwaQumbu Primary, Sophie Phewa Primary, Kuhle Kwethu Primary and Khiphulwazu Primary School for her lower grades. She then proceeded to Sompukwane Secondary School and completed her matric at Okumhlophe Secondary School. She is currently incubated at Centre for Social Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (DUTCSERI).
Determined to find a solution, Thembelihle refused to succumb to despair. She then embarked on a journey to create her own income stream, starting with selling popcorn from her home. As her ventures expanded to include selling chicken feet and fat cakes, with these earnings, she could afford essential expenses such as data for accessing her emails and putting food on the table for her family.
Eventually, she saved up enough to move to town and establish her own cooking business in 2021. She named it The Joy-arta which is the brief of her passion: “I feel the joy when I cook, cooking is my art.” Her company currently has 2 employees. “Upon enrolling in Drama and Production Studies at DUT, I embarked on a journey to pursue my passion. However, my graduation in 2020 coincided with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, which severely impacted the media and entertainment industry. This challenging time left me feeling uncertain and disillusioned.
As the first graduate in my family, I felt the weight of my parents’ expectations. I had hoped to support them financially, but the economic turmoil rendered it impossible, leaving me feeling frustrated and lost.”- She said. Thembelihle notes that being a woman in business can be challenging, as she faces misconceptions that women achieve success due to their appearance or charm, rather than hard work and merit. This forces her to go above and beyond to prove her worth.
Thembelihle’s entrepreneurial journey gained momentum when she was nominated for the Sebenza Women Awards in 2023. She as one emerged of the top 5 finalists, earning a coveted spot in the Incubation programme and receiving funding vouchers to participate in the CSERI Incubation programme. “It’s had helped me develop my skills in business management, marketing strategies and my financial literacy has improved a lot. I have been able to socialise and collaborate with few of other entrepreneurs from this programme.”-she said
Thembelihle Shezi proves starting small works. “Motivational speakers say, ‘start now with what you have.’ I’ve done it.” Her advice? “Seize the moment when passion strikes. Believe in yourself; others will follow.” Her highlights for 2024 includes her collaborations with African Bank and Khosi Nkosi fashion brand (poetry), Debut poetry single launch (Nov 29, 2024, at DUT Courtyard Theatre).
Her poetry is available to all digital platforms:
YouTube: Thembelihle Shezi
Instagram: thembelihle.madlaba
Facebook: Thembelihle Shezi
- Nomvelo Mkhwanazi
- Pictured: Thembelihle Madlaba
