Behind every small business is someone who decided to take a chance.
Sometimes it starts with a side hustle. Sometimes it begins around a kitchen table. Sometimes it grows from solving a problem no one else seemed to notice. And sometimes, it starts because life leaves you with no other choice.
This Women’s Month, we’re celebrating some of the inspiring women building businesses across South Africa, where supporting local is as simple as paying with Zapper.
Here are their stories…
Life’s too short to wait
Krumble
After being diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, Nicky had a life-changing realisation while sitting through treatment: life was too short to keep putting dreams on hold. Instead of waiting for the “right time”, she decided to take the leap and started baking.
Her belief is beautifully simple. Cookies may seem like a small thing, but they have a way of making someone’s day so much better.
Building Krumble hasn’t always been easy. Like many entrepreneurs, Nicky has navigated uncertainty, long hours, and plenty of moments where she questioned whether she was doing the right thing. But she also discovered something just as important: you don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin.
One mother’s search for a remedy
Marice Rooibos Skincare
Some businesses start by solving a problem close to home.
For Marice Mercuur, it was her daughter’s eczema. Inspired by her rooibos-farming roots in Wupperthal, she created a handmade soap using rooibos for a gentle, natural remedy.
What started as a single product has since grown into Marice Rooibos Skincare, a range of handcrafted face and body products made by employing the healing powers of the indigenous tea bush.
Today, every jar, bottle, and bar reflects Marice’s passion for natural skincare while celebrating South African ingredients, supporting local communities, and honouring the rooibos heritage that inspired the business from the very beginning.
Luxury fragrance without the luxury price tag
What’s That Fragrance
Luxury doesn’t have to come with a luxury price tag.
That was the thinking behind What’s That Fragrance when friends Cath and Jenny launched the business in 2019. Their goal was simple: create high-quality personal fragrances that make everyday luxury accessible without compromising on quality.
The proudly South African brand has built a loyal community of returning customers who appreciate beautifully crafted scents at affordable prices. Alongside its inspired-by perfume collection, they also make home fragrances and personalised products.
Fitness that fits into your life
Sportysport
When gyms closed during the pandemic, Unati Zungu recognised the need for simple, portable fitness equipment that can be used anywhere.
She founded Sportysport in 2020, manufacturing and selling everything from flow ropes and skipping ropes to hula hoops and resistance bands. Whether it was a living room, driveway, local park, or holiday destination, exercise no longer needed to depend on a gym.
Today, the proudly female-owned South African business helps people of all fitness levels stay active wherever life takes them. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best business ideas come from solving the challenges around them.
When passion becomes a label
Zip-Code
Fashion has been Clare Jones’ world for more than three decades.
After studying fashion design, she spent years designing collections, working with major retailers, managing production, and travelling overseas to source fabrics, garments, and emerging trends.
In 2003, she decided it was time to build something of her own.
That decision became Zip-Code, a proudly Durban-born women’s fashion label that has continued to grow for more than twenty years. What began with a single boutique has expanded into multiple stores, online shopping, and wholesale collections while remaining committed to local manufacturing.
Producing clothing in South Africa has allowed her to create jobs, support local skills, and prove that beautifully made garments don’t need to come from overseas.
Giving wildlife a second chance
Wildlife Rescue NPC
Some calls can’t wait until morning.
An injured buck. An orphaned vervet monkey. A bat caught in fencing.
Wildlife Rescue NPC responds every day of the year.
Founded and led by women on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast, the registered non-profit works alongside veterinarians, rehabilitation centres, and local volunteers to rescue, transport, and care for wildlife in crisis. Their service is provided to the community free of charge, ensuring animals receive help when they need it most.
It’s demanding, unpredictable work, but one driven by compassion and an unwavering commitment to giving every rescued animal the best possible chance of survival.
Helping people hear life’s important moments
Be Heard Audiology
Being able to hear is something most of us take for granted. But for some, it’s life-changing.
That’s the purpose behind Be Heard Audiology, founded by Bronwyn Hein eight years ago. Since opening its doors, the practice has focused on helping people improve their hearing, communication, and quality of life through personalised audiology care.
Just as important to Bronwyn is the team she’s built around her.
Made up of people from different South African cultures and backgrounds, the practice reflects the diversity of the communities it serves while working towards one shared goal: helping people reconnect with the sounds and conversations that shape everyday life.
Support local this Women’s Month with Zapper
Every purchase contributes to a story.
Sometimes it’s helping someone grow a dream that started in a garage. Other times it’s supporting local manufacturing. Sometimes it’s protecting wildlife, creating jobs, or backing an entrepreneur who refused to give up.
This Women’s Month, consider supporting one of these inspiring South African businesses. And when it’s time to pay, do it fast and securely with Zapper.
