SA Students Build Thriving Businesses to Fund Their Degrees

When Sibabalwe Ngandana needed money for groceries during his honours year, he didn't just take out more debt. He started baking fresh vetkoek and selling them to fellow students at Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

The revenue pays for his monthly groceries, daily expenses, and helps chip away at what he owes the university. But something unexpected happened along the way: he discovered a talent and passion he never knew he had.

"Looking back, I am grateful that circumstances forced me into entrepreneurship," says Ngandana. "It helped me build self-reliance and revealed a long-term business model that I now plan to grow even further."

He's not alone. Across South Africa, thousands of postgraduate students face a funding gap where government support is limited and institutional bursaries are highly competitive.

Without comprehensive funding like undergraduate students receive through NSFAS, many are finding creative solutions. Some are launching delivery services with scooters purchased during brief work contracts, while others are running hair businesses supplying fellow students with wigs and styling products.

Wanga Mammburu, a virology honours student at Wits, turned her hair business into a lifeline. "My small business has helped me manage my expenses," she says, while continuing her demanding research work.

Another CPUT student invested in a scooter during a four-month work contract, planning ahead to create sustainable income for the year. He's since expanded into selling sausages, building multiple income streams to stay enrolled.

The Bright Side

While these students wish more funding existed for postgraduate degrees, especially academic programs that require advanced study, many are discovering unexpected benefits from their entrepreneurial journey. They're gaining real-world business experience, learning financial management, and building networks that extend beyond campus.

Ngandana admits that with a bursary, he probably wouldn't have opened his business. But the skills he's gained in running an enterprise while completing his degree have given him confidence and a viable career path he hadn't considered before.

These students are proving that resourcefulness can transform obstacles into opportunities. They're not just surviving their postgraduate years; they're building foundations for future success that go far beyond their academic qualifications.