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28 November 2018 | Story Moeketsi Mogotsi | Photo Moeketsi Mogotsi
Nettah read more
Limpopo-born Law student Anet Matakala’s giant leap of faith by entering the Shoprite Hustler of the Month competition.

Anet Matakala is a Law student who recently had a brilliant, sensational experience when she received recognition as an up-and-coming entrepreneur by Shoprite through their Hustler of the Month Entrepreneur competition.

Matakala is the owner of Nettah Organics, a personal healthcare-product company which uses food-based products to handcraft products for the skin, hair, and body. These products include healthy foodstuffs such as avocados, coffee, green tea, and cinnamon.

She says due to the lack of organic products on the market, she initially made products only for herself. However, in 2017, friends and family started showing interest and she decided to distribute her products among them.

Matakala, who hails from Limpopo, says she formally registered the company in April 2018, while continuing with the same business model.

Making bold moves

The 24-year-old says a friend encouraged her to enter the Shoprite competition after seeing a promo run on social media.

She says signing up for the competition was a leap of faith which yielded results that she hardly expected.

“I was actually playing when I entered. They only responded to me after two months, and at first, I didn’t know that I won; I thought I was just a finalist. A week after that, they told me that they have arranged a photographer to take photos of me and my products. When I asked what it’s for, they told me I had won,” she says.

Her prize as the Shoprite Hustler of October includes a cash prize, sponsored radio marketing, social-media coverage and a crowdfund page for Nettah Organics.

“It [the competition] increased my sales. The competition actually helped me, because a lot of people became interested in my stuff and they started enquiring about them," she adds.

Looking forward, Matakala says she would like to see her products on shelves in retail stores.

News Archive

Lots of inspiration at Autumn Graduation Ceremony
2013-04-18

 

Graduates celebrate the results of years of study at the graduation ceremony on the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Hannes Pieterse
17 April 2013

Live streaming of ceremonies available from 16 April - 19 April 2013: http://www.ufs.ac.za/ufslivestreaming/

Joshua Johnson YouTube video

The university’s Autumn Graduation Ceremony got off to a vibrant start with energetic performances and inspiring messages for graduates.

Joshua Johnson, an American student who uses his talent for tap-dancing to fund his tertiary education, mesmerised the audience on the first of the four-day graduation ceremony with his story of hope and perseverance. The student from Penn State University travels five hours by bus to New York every weekend where he tap-dances on the subway trains to earn money for his tuition fees.

Delivering a keynote address, Joshua told graduates that, in order to achieve their goals, they have to understand and work diligently with the 24 hours they get to live daily. “Start with a bang and end with a bang,” he said, encouraging the audience in the nearly-packed Callie Human Centre to join him in a rhythmic tap-dancing beat.

“Don’t follow in the footsteps of someone else. Take the beat of life, but add your rhythm to it," his wise words resonating with the exhilarated graduates.

Joshua will be the guest speaker at the ceremonies on 16, 17 and 19 April 2013 and will deliver a dance item during each occasion.

Dr Khotso Mokhele, Chancellor of the University, echoed Joshua‘s message, telling graduates not to be discouraged by life’s difficulties.

“Take what you have learned over the last three or four years and use that knowledge to reach your goal,” he advised.

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, encouraged them to continue to study. “To break the cycle of poverty, get an education, get a degree.” He told them that as graduates they are ten times more likely to get a job, with the odds rising as they continue their postgraduate studies.

Well-known radio host and Idols South Africa judge, Gareth Cliff, will be the guest speaker at two ceremonies on 18 April 2013. He will be joined by Vicus Visser, the South African YouTube singing sensation. Dubbed Bloemfontein’s Justin Bieber, Vicus and his brother Vincent will perform during these two ceremonies.

The programme for the respective ceremonies is:

Wednesday 17 April

09:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Education.
14:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculties of Health Sciences, Law and Theology.

Thursday 18 April

09:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences: only Agricultural Sciences and Architecture.
14:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences: only Natural Sciences.

Friday 19 April

09:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: all diplomas and degrees in the Faculty, except BCom and BComHons.
14:30 Diplomas and certificates up to and including honours degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: only BCom and BComHons.

The Qwaqwa Campus’ graduation ceremony will take place on 8 June 2013. Diplomas/certificates up to and including doctorates will be awarded at this ceremony.

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