Building resilient businesses in South Africa starts with healing

Running a business is never just about numbers, stock or sales. For many South Africans, the biggest barrier to success isn’t lack of opportunity, but the unresolved trauma of poverty, abuse and loss. Trauma shapes mindset. It influences reactions, which in turn shape actions and behaviours. Left unaddressed, it can hold people back, cloud decision-making and make businesses fragile and unsustainable. In South Africa, mental health challenges are deeply tied to poverty.

A 2022 WITS University study published in Frontiers in Public Health, showed that South Africans suffer higher rates of probable depression and anxiety than other countries, but only a quarter receive treatment. For those living in poverty, the pressure is compounded, and survival often takes priority over healing. This has very real consequences for entrepreneurship. A person may receive training in business management or learn a trade, but if they are still carrying unprocessed pain, fear or self-doubt, those inner battles can quietly derail their efforts. Trauma doesn’t stay in the past; it shows up in today’s choices, tomorrow’s risks and in the resilience needed to keep going when times are tough.

Ntokozo Alicia Dlomo’s childhood was marked by trauma. She carried this trauma into adulthood, having never been given the chance to heal. Ntokozo explains, “My life has been a rollercoaster of pain, loss and struggle. Raised in a family of eight with an abusive stepfather and a mother who was difficult to understand, I faced unimaginable challenges growing up. The loss of three children, enduring emotional and financial hardship and trying to make ends meet on my own were all part of my journey.”

When she joined TCB’s Durban Resell programme in 2020, she was unsure of what to expect, but it became the turning point of her life. “It was more than just selling clothes; it was a place where I could grow. It was a chance to rebuild my life,” she recalls.

“Walking into that space, I felt an instant connection. The warmth, the smiles, the support from everyone – it was unlike anything I had experienced before,” she says. The women at TCB provided Ntokozo with a safe space to share her story and talk about the pain, the abuse and the losses she had faced. “It was the first time I felt truly understood. Through workshops and counselling sessions, I learned to confront my past, to forgive myself and to find peace. The sisterhood at TCB was a crucial part of my healing journey – these were women who had been through similar struggles, who had faced their own challenges and emerged stronger. Together, we supported each other, shared advice and built each other up,” she says.

When it got down to the business of being a businesswoman, Ntokozo never imagined that she would be able to succeed, but the business training and mentorship helped her. It wasn’t long before her business started to grow. “I made sure to always have new items, constantly restocking to keep my customers excited. The business was thriving, and I expanded into selling perfumes and bags, diversifying my offerings to grow my business,” she says.

Thanks to her hard work and dedication, things started to improve for Ntokozo and her family. “I moved into a better apartment and provided a safe, nurturing environment for my children,” she explains. “My life was no longer a struggle. I could build a house for my family, renovate my mother’s house, and dream of owning multiple clothing stores. I learned the importance of saving, planning and investing in my future.”

Ntokozo’s journey shows why healing is not an optional extra – it is foundational. Skills and resources alone cannot sustain a business if the person behind it is weighed down by unresolved wounds. Trauma recovery gives entrepreneurs the courage to take risks, the resilience to weather setbacks and the confidence to build sustainable futures.

Ntokozo was fortunate to find a sanctuary where she could heal, build a new life and find strength in a community of women who understood what she had been through. Her journey shows that skills and knowledge may open the door to opportunity, but it is healing from trauma that allows people to walk through it and build a business that lasts.

Taking Care of Business (TCB) is a non-profit that empowers unemployed South Africans to become self-employed in the informal sector. Alongside its two-year training programme in business and entrepreneurship, TCB prioritises counselling, peer support and workshops that give participants the chance to confront their past, process trauma and rebuild confidence. By investing in both business skills and personal healing, participants gain the clarity and resilience needed to build businesses that last.

You can make a difference to people like Ntokozo this Mental Health Awareness Month by supporting TCB, donate here.