WeeklySA_AdminGRIT: From selling soft drinks at school to leading a diversified business group spanning property, finance, education and technology, Mhlonishwa Winston Kunene’s journey illustrates the power of youth entrepreneurship — and why South Africa must do more to back its young builders…
By Lihle Malinga
June in South Africa carries profound historical significance. Youth Month is a time of remembrance, reflection and reckoning — a moment to honour the sacrifices of the generation of 1976 while confronting the realities facing young people today.
With youth unemployment hovering at alarming levels, the question remains: are we doing enough to create meaningful opportunities for the next generation?
Yet, amid the challenges, a resilient cohort of young South Africans is quietly building businesses, creating jobs and reshaping the economy from the ground up. They are not waiting for permission, nor are they relying solely on government interventions. Instead, they are forging their own paths through innovation, determination and entrepreneurial grit.
One such example is Mhlonishwa Winston Kunene, known in business circles as MWK.
As the founder and group chief executive officer of Libertalia Group, Kunene’s journey from a resourceful teenager to a multi-sector business leader offers valuable lessons on the transformative power of youth enterprise.
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial beginnings, Kunene recalls a seemingly ordinary moment during his high school years that would ultimately shape his future.
When his school stopped selling soft drinks due to new health policies, he immediately recognised a business opportunity.
“I decided I was an entrepreneur right then and there,” he says with a laugh. “I saw a problem that needed solving and I stepped in. I never looked back.”
What began as a simple schoolyard venture evolved into a lifelong commitment to building businesses that address real economic challenges.
Kunene launched his first formal enterprise with a clear understanding that financial independence is something that must be actively created rather than passively inherited. Today, Libertalia Group operates across multiple sectors, including Real Estate, Financial Services, Education and Technology.
The group’s diversified portfolio reflects a deliberate strategy aimed at addressing some of South Africa’s most pressing socio-economic challenges, particularly financial exclusion and youth unemployment.
For Kunene, Youth Month represents far more than a symbolic annual commemoration.
“Youth Month is not just a calendar event — it’s a call to action,” he says. “Our responsibility, as those who have walked part of the journey, is to ensure that the road becomes wider and more accessible for those who come after us.” His achievements provide something equally important: inspiration.
In a country where many young people face daunting obstacles, visible examples of success serve as powerful reminders that ambition, when matched with hard work and perseverance, can overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers.
Kunene’s growing list of accolades — including recognition as one of W.O.W Africa’s 50 Rare Men and the builder of South Africa’s Top Education Youth-Owned Brand — sends a powerful message to young people in townships, rural communities and small towns: success is possible.
However, acknowledgement alone is not enough.
South Africa’s young entrepreneurs need more than applause. They require access to funding, mentorship, networks and policy environments that encourage innovation and enterprise.
Recognising this reality, Kunene has dedicated significant effort to building structures that support emerging entrepreneurs. As a Founding Member of the South African Youth in Property Association (SAYIPA) and a member of the Property Sector Charter Council, he actively contributes to creating pathways that lower barriers to entry and expand opportunities for young professionals and business owners.
His work demonstrates that meaningful transformation requires more than individual achievement; it demands a commitment to lifting others along the way.
Kunene’s story is ultimately a reminder that youth aspirations are not merely dreams. They are ambitions backed by discipline, sacrifice and countless hours of hard work.
As South Africa reflects on Youth Month, it should also recognise the young people who are already building the country’s future — not through slogans, but through action.
If the nation is serious about economic growth and social progress, then its institutions, private sector leaders and policymakers must move beyond rhetoric. They must actively invest in young entrepreneurs, support youth-led businesses and remove barriers that prevent innovation from flourishing.
The future of South Africa will not be secured by speeches alone. It will be built by young people willing to create opportunities where none exist.
The task before the country is clear: see them, support them and invest in them — not only during Youth Month, but throughout the year. Our collective prosperity may well depend on it.
