By Ntonhle Mzileni
MBABANE – Meet Khayelihle Masuku, the entrepreneur who is combining the skills of welding and keyboard teaching to create a profitable future for himself.
Khayelihle (Elihle) Masuku, who hails from Sigangeni Chiefdom under Siphocosini Constituency, is an exceptional person with a strong interest in entrepreneurship and music. Despite facing challenges such as growing up without parents and lacking financial support, Khayelihle has demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination in pursuing his dreams.
He shared that he started his entrepreneurial journey as a groundsman after completing his high school education in 2016. Unable to secure admission to college, he then returned home to pursue his welding business. With limited resources, he took on odd jobs to save enough money to purchase a welding machine, which cost E2 500.
Determined to learn the trade, he educated himself through YouTube tutorials, acquiring the skills necessary to launch his welding business in 2018. “I was not good at welding, hence I downloaded YouTube tutorials to teach myself,” Masuku said.
“Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, particularly with a father who owned a local restaurant, I was inspired to become a businessman myself. The concept of being able to sustain myself while experiencing the independence and adaptability of owning a business appealed to me. I also observed that in a business, one’s income is directly linked to their hard work, eliminating the need to appease bosses or superiors. This understanding encouraged me even more to start my own entrepreneurial path,” Masuku said.
Masuku also mentioned that in 2019, he got admitted to Limkokwing University of Creative Technology for a music design program. However, he encountered difficulty in balancing his studies with his welding business, which was his source of income. “Through resourcefulness and determination, I was able to sustain my welding business on weekends and during school holidays,” he stated.
He also stated that this year 2024, he expanded his business activities by starting private keyboard lessons. Initially, he taught these classes from his home and later relocated to a rented classroom at kaBoyce Primary School, where he is currently doing his internship.
He mentioned that he has acknowledged his skill in playing the keyboard and took the chance to share his musical abilities with other. Consequently, he took on the role of a keyboard his proficiency on the keyboard instructor, providing lessons to interested individuals for a fee. Through his teaching, Masuku not only imparts musical knowledge but also instils a sense of passion and dedication in his students.
Masuku expands his influence beyond the spheres of business and music, using his Facebook platform to share inspiring and motivational conversations with his audience, gaining recognition for his uplifting messages and positive perspective on life.
He also motivated other young entrepreneurs to work hard and believe in themselves and their goals, emphasizing the quote by Denzel Washington that “dreams without goals are just dreams.” He suggested that hard work is crucial to achieving one’s goals even in the face of challenges or seemingly impossible circumstances.
