Asanda Maqawa | TCB Resell Programme | Cape Town
My name is Asanda Maqawa. I am a Taking Care of Business (TCB) Resell programme ambassador. I joined in 2022.
I’m a 43-year-old married female. Living in Gugulethu with 3 kids: a 16-year-old girl and boy and an 11 year old girl. I am also taking care of my mom who is not working.
Life before TCB: I was struggling, broken – emotionally, mentally and physically. I was unemployed at that time as I had been retrenched. I joined TCB because I wanted to put bread on the table for my kids and wanted a better life for my family and to be empowered as a woman by TCB.
It has been a good journey with the love and respect that I got from TCB. The skills that I got at TCB was selling, budgeting and saving money, basically business studies and financial skills.
I feel empowered by engaging in reselling items that are being thrown away or recycled.
As a person, TCB has changed me into being financially independent. Since I joined TCB my life has changed by me becoming a successful business woman and breaking the cycle of poverty. My family life has changed. I’ve managed to take care of my kids, send them to multi-racial schools and pay school transport and school fees – which I couldn’t afford before joining TCB.
I was working in retail for many years before. Working retail hours meant there was no one helping my kids with homework. Being retrenched actually helped me a lot because I was then able to help them with their homework. Now since becoming a business woman through TCB I have the time to help them and still make an income.
What I love most about being a business owner is being my own boss. I am trading over my phone and using the skills I got through TCB. I use social media platforms as well. My dream is to trade in a center or a mall or market. These days it is difficult to trade at stands because of the extortion.
I am unique because of my approach to others and the skills that I’ve gained at my personal experience at TCB.
I am unique, confident and independent. 2 things I depend on daily – taking care of my business and taking care of my family.
My kids and being able to provide for them daily is what keep me motivated daily.
My advice to those who want to be self-employed is to have self-discipline and to be passionate in what you are doing. Have a long-term vision.
Taking Care of Business (TCB) is a nonprofit social enterprise. We are empowering unemployed South Africans and their families to escape the cycle of poverty through small business opportunities, mostly within the circular economy.