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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

Meet the person behind the new #FaceOfFacebook
2016-05-19

Reuben “R” Davids

The votes have been counted, and we have a winner! After much excitement and a fairly close contest, Reuben “R” Davids emerged victorious from the top five contestants selected by our panel of judges. We chatted with the vibrant and enthusiastic Mr Davids to get a sense of the person who will be our Facebook ambassador for the next year.

What does the “R” stand for?

“Interestingly, some also know me as Vuyo. It's not a name on my birth certificate or anything; I just really like it. And I also coincidentally found out that it means “joy/happiness”, and I do enjoy being happy.”

What is your field of study, and how far along are you?

“I am pursuing a career in the economics field as a third-year BCom Accounting student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences here at the University of the Free State.”

Are you originally from Bloemfontein?

“Yes, born and bred. I've been a Bloem Kid since day one.”

How is it that you ended up here, studying at the UFS?

“The UFS has always been one of my favourite universities. During my high school period, I was constantly exposed to people from my neighbourhood as well as schoolmates who performing excellently here at UFS, and it didn't go unnoticed. So I have always been drawn to the prestige that UFS carries.”

Which residence are you in, and what do you enjoy most about res life?

“I currently stay at home with the family, but for my first 2 years of study I resided at ConLaurês. What I enjoyed the most about res life is the freedom and independence that you get. It also enables one to participate in campus life much easier. It actually helps one grow and mature into the adult you're supposed to become with all the challenges and responsibilities that you're faced with.”

What do you hope to accomplish during your term as the #FaceOfFacebook?

“I enjoy the art of presenting (as well as being an MC), and being the #FaceOfFacebook will enable me to exercise that skill. Also, my interaction skills will be exercised. That being said, I would like to have those skills developed further by the end of my term as #FaceOfFacebook.”

What is your motivation in your studies, in taking part in this contest, and in life?

“I am an adrenaline junkie. I like taking on challenge; so what I normally do is I set a certain goal for myself and then take on the challenge to achieve that goal. That's my number one motivating factor. And I think I'm also inspired by the failures and successes of myself and of those around me.”

Reuben has already been featured in a #PeopleOfKovsies post on Facebook, and appeared in his first Facebook video covering the Open Day on our Bloemfontein Campus.

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