Africa-Press – Eswatini. What began as a part-time hustle for survival has now become a thriving passion and growing business for Mncobi Lungelo Magagula, a 25-year-old carpenter and entrepreneur from Lomshiyo, Ntfonjeni in the Hhohho Region.
Mncobi, who was raised by a single mother after losing his father when he was just a baby, never allowed hardship to stop him from pursuing his dream. His mother supported the family by selling avocados at the market, a humble beginning that shaped his values of hard work and perseverance.
After completing school at Ntfonjeni High School in 2018, Mncobi struggled with poor results and could not afford to restart. Instead of giving up, he started working at a supermarket to save money. Later, he left the supermarket for a new opportunity working as an assistant in a carpentry workshop.
In 2020, Mncobi returned to school and completed Form 5 at Mhlatane High School in 2022, where he achieved 7 credits and 1 pass , a major improvement, powered by dedication and support from the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children programme (OVC). He used the money he earned from carpentry to buy school essentials and cover his needs “I would work on weekends and school holidays, and that helped me pay for top up at school and other things.” In 2022, he enrolled at Gwamile Vocational and Commercial Training Institute in Matsapha to study Carpentry and Joinery, graduated with a diploma.
Today, Mncobi works at Mayibongwe Board and Timber in Piggs Peak, where he specialises in roofing, ceilings, fittings, board cutting, and edging. Even as he works full-time, he continues to run his own business ,Aya’s Carpentry located just after JC Church on the road to the University of Eswatini. “I haven’t left my business,” he said proudly. “Whenever I get an order, I make sure I deliver ,even if it means working weekends.”
He operates mostly alone but is occasionally assisted by a friend who is studying at the University of Eswatini.Mncobi admits that there are hard days when business is slow, but he keeps pushing forward.
“I remind myself why I started. I didn’t choose this hustle just for the good days. I believe in the long-term vision. Even with no reward today, showing up every day builds success over time,” he said.
He believes that every tough day teaches him something, whether it is improving his skills, learning patience, or staying mentally strong.Mncobi Magagula’s story is one of quiet strength and unstoppable determination. From a young boy raised by a market vendor to a skilled carpenter with a growing business, he is proof that with resilience, consistency, and belief in one’s dream, anything is possible.
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