Raised in the rural area of Ngcobo by a single mother, Mendisa Bakaco quickly learnt the value of hard work and entrepreneurship.
And her determination and grit has seen her recently secure shelf space for her cleaning products at a prominent East London retailer.
Her mother, Thobeka Sobuza, a retired teacher, always had a knack for business, running several side ventures alongside her teaching career. It is no surprise that Bakaco inherited the same drive and passion.
“I grew up producing what we needed with our own hands,” Bakaco said.
“Most of the food we ate came from what we planted ourselves. We grew maize and processed it into samp or mealie meal.
“That hands-on approach planted a deep passion to create products people use every day.”
Bakaco, 52, now based in Southern-wood, started her manufacturing venture during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Her printing business had to close temporarily, but she saw an opportunity in the rising demand for hand sanitisers and cleaning products.
“I decided to explore manufacturing cleaning products,” she said.
“I registered with Chemin for detergent training, and later for skincare products.
“I loved the process so much that it became my new focus.”
Her first products included dishwashing liquid, hand sanitiser, pine gel, thick bleach, and ammoniated cleaning cream.
Customers responded enthusiastically, providing valuable feedback that helped her refine her formulas.
Today, her dishwashing liquid is Chemin-certified, giving buyers confidence in its quality.
“Quality, safety, and continuous improvement are our priorities,” she said.
“Our skincare products — body butter, lip balm, lip scrub, and heel balm — will be sent to SABS for testing this month to ensure the highest standards.”
For Bakaco, platforms such as the Link FM Annual Market Day, which took place on Saturday, are invaluable.
“It was a wonderful experience. We could showcase our products, connect directly with customers, and network with other businesses.
“Events like these help small businesses reach new customers and build relationships.
“Many people were curious about how the products are made and appreciated that they’re locally produced. It’s inspiring to see people supporting local entrepreneurs.”
Of course, building a business has not been without its challenges.
Access to resources and markets, as well as compliance with testing standards, have required time, effort, and investment.
But Bakaco’s focus on learning and improving has allowed her to overcome these obstacles and continue growing.
“My motivation comes from seeing customers trust and use my products every day.
“I hope to grow my business to create employment opportunities in the Eastern Cape so that young people don’t have to leave to find work elsewhere.”
Looking ahead, she plans to expand into broader markets through retail stores and e-commerce platforms.
Her dishwashing liquid is already on the shelves at Berea SPAR, where it is performing exceptionally well.
“I’m grateful to Marko, the manager at Berea SPAR, for giving us that opportunity,” she said.
To aspiring entrepreneurs, she offers simple advice: “Start with what you have, keep learning, invest in training, and focus on producing quality products.
“There will be challenges, but consistency and perseverance are key.
“Don’t be afraid to start small — every big business starts with a small step.”
