Driven by a vision for 
generational wealth, 51-year-old Thobeka Ndabula from Soweto, Johannesburg, launched Zazi Juice in early 2020. This is an agro-processing enterprise producing 100% fruit juice blends, dried fruits and biltong.
A former photojournalist, Ndabula said her passion for entrepreneurship was ignited while covering stories across the country. She recalled how former President Thabo Mbeki encouraged young people to Vuk’uzenzele—“wake up and do it for yourself.”
After quitting her job in 2007, Ndabula founded a production company and a non-profit organisation that taught school learners how to grow vegetable gardens. This experience sparked her interest in agro-processing.
“I started at my sister’s kitchen in Thembisa, our first mini production just before the hard lockdown hit,” she recalled.
She established a relationship with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) completed an ecommerce workshop that enhanced her skills and opened new opportunities.
Securing formal business premises was a significant milestone that required resilience.
She explained that the GDARD had told her they couldn’t assist her while she was working from home and that she needed to find premises for her equipment.
After a year of operating from her sister’s kitchen, she managed to move production into a dedicated warehouse.
“That’s when things started moving,” she said.
Transitioning from manual labour to more advanced production methods marked a major step forward for the entrepreneur. However, she soon lost the warehouse when she could no longer afford the rent.
New beginnings
In 2024, things began to look up for Zazi Juice. The GDARD bought additional machinery, and the business received a food safety compliance certificate from the same department.
Today, Ndabula runs her operation from the Joburg Market, employing eight staff members. Her products are available online, at various markets, and in selected Spar outlets.
Ndabula has also gained international exposure through trade exhibitions supported by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic). She recently showcased her products at the Anuga Food and Beverage Trade Fair in Germany.
The dtic’s support has enabled small and medium agro-processors like Zazi Juice to access global markets, build trade partnerships and position South African products on international shelves.
“When people are there, they don’t see colour; they see products. They don’t even see the owner. They just want to buy, which helps you make a profit,” she said.
South Africa will host the Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg on 22–23 November 2025 — the first to be held in Africa. As G20 members, South Africa and Germany share a commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable food systems. Entrepreneurs like Ndabula reflect this vision through innovation and small-business development.
For more information about Zazi Juice visit their Facebook page: Zazi's Productions
Contact the dtic on www.thedtic.gov.za
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