STRUGGLES PUSHED HER TO START A DÉCOR BUSINESS

Décor and catering services rendered ease the stress when we have to deal with and concentrate on the actual events at hand. Hloniphile Valencia Shongwe is a businesswoman who will make sure your events are well-organized and put together. She grew up in Daveyton, Barcelona, and studied Hospitality Management for a year at the University of Johannesburg after which she enrolled for a Law Degree and graduated in 2020. From a young age, she enjoyed working with people and offering her services. While studying she ran a small business at the residence where she would bake and sell, and also sold second-hand textbooks.“After my father passed away, there were disputes in my father’s estate between my father’s family and my mother and this is where my interest in law grew. I wanted to be an advocate for the voiceless.” She tells The Olifants. However, in 2021 while doing her articles at one of the leading law firms she fell ill and was forced to leave her job. “As a result, I decided to start my own business where no one would be able to fire me. That’s when I started Pandalencia Events with the help of my husband.” She shares.At Pandalencia they do décor for lobola celebrations, weddings, baby showers, parties, etc., and offer catering services. They mostly cater to people in the East Rand. Their target market is people who want affordable décor. The prices start from as little as R800.00 and also allow customers to come up with their own designs and requests. Homophile’s biggest project was when she catered for 500 people at a funeral in Soweto.