By Mthokozisi Mthethwa
Nonkululeko ‘Leko’ Mahlangu is turning her entrepreneurial ambitions into a community-driven mission to create opportunities for young people in Komati. The 24-year-old has spent the past few years exploring how entrepreneurship can be used as a tool for sustainable community development.
Her vision began to take shape in May 2025 when she joined a commercial agriculture and enterprise development programme offered through the Enterprising Africa Regional Network (EARN) and African Greeneurs, where she continues to sharpen her understanding of how to build sustainable enterprises.
Supported by Eskom as part of its commitment to social and economic development in the community, the programme has equipped her with practical knowledge in areas such as project management, sustainable business models, and community-centred enterprise development.
WATCH: Leko Mahlangu talks about her entrepreneurial journey through the EARN Programme.
The Bakery Project: A Bakery with a Bigger Purpose
Armed with new knowledge and a renewed sense of purpose, Mahlangu began developing what she believes could become a catalyst for economic growth in the area: a community-owned Primary Co-operative Bakery in Ward 4.
The bakery project is more than a business venture. It is a response to the economic challenges facing Komati following the closure of the power station and the introduction of the Just Energy Transition, which has left many residents, particularly young people, seeking opportunities.
Through the cooperative model, Mahlangu aims to establish a community-led enterprise where residents are not only beneficiaries but active stakeholders in shaping its success and future. Rather than operating under a traditional business structure, Mahlangu says that the bakery will follow the principle of ‘One Member, One Vote, One Client’, ensuring that community members are not merely workers but equal participants in decision making and ownership.
Believing that solutions should come from within the community, Mahlangu organised a workshop at a local church on 13 June, inviting residents to learn more about the bakery proposal, share their ideas, and help shape its direction. The gathering also provided an opportunity to identify local skills and explore how community members could contribute to the initiative. She says the response was overwhelmingly positive.
“The energy from the community was incredible,” Mahlangu said. “People came ready to contribute ideas and skills. We realised that we already have talented individuals in our community who can help build something meaningful together.”
The workshop mapped out skills ranging from bookkeeping and administration to logistics and operations, while also laying the foundation for future directorship and management training structures within the cooperative. The positive feedback reinforced Mahlangu’s belief that residents are eager to participate in solutions that create long-term economic opportunities.
Overcoming Challenges Through Community Support
Like many start-up initiatives, the project faces challenges. Securing capital for commercial baking equipment remains a hurdle, while encouraging people to move from being consumers to becoming owners requires a significant mindset shift. Despite these obstacles, community members have already begun contributing small registration fees to support legal and business registration processes.
Mahlangu is also calling on nearby mines, power stations, and other industries to support sustainable community enterprises that can create a lasting impact. ”We don’t need temporary solutions,” she said. “We need investments that help communities become self-sustaining. When people have the tools and opportunities to create their own economic future, the benefits last for generations.”
‘’We have the talent, the ideas, and the collective power to rebuild our own economy. When we stand together and pool our resources, we can create opportunities not only for ourselves but for future generations as well.”
As Youth Month draws to a close, Mahlangu hopes her journey will encourage other young people in eKomati to become active participants in rebuilding their local economy. “We are the ones we have been waiting for,” she proudly says. “We have the talent, the ideas, and the collective power to rebuild our own economy. When we stand together and pool our resources, we can create opportunities not only for ourselves but for future generations as well.”
While the bakery is the immediate focus, Mahlangu sees it as the first step towards a much bigger vision, shaped by the knowledge and skills she has gained through her training.
Beyond the Bakery: A Vision for Community Growth
The Eskom-sponsored EARN and African Greeneurs programme strengthened her understanding of sustainable business models and how communities can build local economies that are not dependent on outside support. She is now applying those lessons through the cooperative bakery model, with plans to expand into agricultural tunnels and other youth-led enterprises that can create opportunities and keep wealth circulating within the community.
For Mahlangu, the bakery is not simply about producing bread. It is about creating a model of community ownership, youth participation, and economic self-reliance that could help shape the future of Komati for years to come.
