Johannesburg – Despite the cold weather, Yolanda Ngobeni and Aarcenia Mario wake up at 4am every day to sell soup on the streets of Soweto.
The women set up their stand at the Bara Taxi Rank, selling their home-made soup to pedestrians and taxi drivers.
The pair decided to start selling soup to passersby at the Soweto taxi rank because they were unemployed and had to find a means to get an income to support their loved ones.
Ngobeni and Mario also say that their soup business has allowed them to be independent women and has given them the opportunity to venture into entrepreneurship.
The women explain that they spend up to R500 a day to buy the ingredients they use to make the soup.
And while their business has been operational for about five years, they have admitted that it has had its ups and downs.
They said their business has often been halted by the police, as they do not have a permit to operate.
They have since applied, but insist that officials are dragging their feet in issuing it.
Despite the challenges, the women said that they are able to make up to R750 a day during peak season and about R450 a day in off-season.
They are determined to grow their operation and are adamant they will persevere despite the many obstacles that they face.