Dolly Shai: A Taking Care of Business Success Story | Resell Programme (Johannesburg)
My name is Dolly Reneilwe Shai. I stay in Tembisa and have one child.
I was born in Limpopo province, in Tzaneen. Life wasn’t bad for me growing up. My uncle and his wife took care of me. I finished school and even went to tertiary education. Challenges started when I got married because I had to take responsibility for my family. I thought life would be easier because I had qualifications. Even though my husband was taking care of me, it wasn’t enough for me because I wanted to be an independent woman. I applied for jobs for many years with no success. I couldn’t get a permanent job—only temporary roles for a week, 2 to 3 days at a time. It was so disappointing and stressful because I thought I would land a job after graduation.
The decision to start a business
That’s when my husband advised me to start a business while looking for a job. He gave me the money to start and I stocked second-hand clothes to sell. I also joined Tupperware and Avon. However, I was still disappointed because my heart was stuck on finding a job, but it just wasn’t happening. Then, I met a lady who graduated from TCB. I was her client, and she introduced me to the program. I applied, and despite many rejections, I kept applying until they finally accepted me. I was so excited because I knew this was the end of my struggle.
TCB is doing great work
I joined TCB because I wanted to be empowered and to gain skills in the business sector. I learned a lot at TCB—business skills, life skills, money management, and counseling. The mentoring was amazing. I can now budget, invest, and save money; I no longer buy unnecessary things. I know how to plan in my business and personal life. My customer service skills are incredible because of my training.
My life has changed through the coaching sessions I attended; I know how to prioritize and schedule, and I received counseling as well. I am so grateful to be in the program at TCB.
As for the clothing we get access to through retail donations of excess stock, I give these items a second chance by selling them to the community and making a living with the money they pay me.
Financial and personal growth
Personally, I have changed by falling in love with other beneficiaries I work with, without judging their previous situations. I understand what life can put you through. Teamwork makes the dream work.
My life has changed significantly financially—I am now an independent woman, no longer begging. Now, I am the one helping others who need it. I even managed to buy myself a car while in the TCB program.
Me and my family are no longer lacking like before. Now, I also help my husband buy household items each month. It’s no longer a burden that is solely on him. I am able to contribute to the family. We are so happy now. No more struggling to buy clothes and homeware; we buy from TCB and save the money.
TCB really does empower people by giving them the skills to run a business and make money so they don’t suffer.
I love being my own boss now. I do things at my own pace—no one is pushing me. I decide what to do and what not to do. I sell around Gauteng and Limpopo. I grow my business by looking for more customers and more suppliers. I don’t have specific items to sell—anything I come across that will give me a profit, I go for it. I am no longer afraid of trying new things; I know that failure is a part of growing.
I want to see myself owning shops, having my own brand, and starting a Non-Profit Organisation. My advice to those who want to start a business is just to go for it! It’s not easy but it’s worth it. Be a go-getter and a hard worker. Don’t give up. Keep pushing until you win—and even when you do, don’t ever stop.
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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.
