Light, Healing, Hustle: Lessons Behind The Light Candles ZA
Light, Healing, Hustle: Lessons Behind The Light Candles ZA. When Makatu Tshivhula, a psychology graduate from Soweto, founded The Light Candles ZA in early 2020, he aimed to channel his degree from healing minds into healing spaces, with candles. Based in Pimville, just outside Maponya Mall, the brand has become South Africa’s first black youth‑owned candle manufacturer, serving spiritual, religious, and household users with premium, long‑burning, scented candles. His journey illuminates purpose‑driven entrepreneurship rooted in craft, community, and clarity.
Crafting a Brand from Purpose and Psychology
After six months working for a candle factory, Makatu realised that candle-making gave him an opportunity to support people’s spiritual and mental wellbeing, especially during hardships like load-shedding. Armed with a psychology degree, he started his own business to manufacture candles that offer comfort, healing, and clarity. Many customers reported feelings of peace and emotional relief after using his products. His goals shifted from academic qualification to tangible impact.
Actionable insight: Anchor your brand in purpose that speaks to both emotional and practical needs.
Filling a Niche with Quality and Trust
Makatu identified a demand in churches, traditional healers, and households. These users depended on reliable, long-burning candles, especially during load-shedding or spiritual practices. His candles burn 11–12 hours, significantly longer than others on the market. He demonstrates confidence by naming The Light Candles as the fastest-growing candle company in South Africa.
Actionable insight: Focus on underserved markets where quality and performance matter more than price.
Milestones That Fueled Growth
- Launched The Light Candles ZA with candle-making experience gained from employment.
- Recognised as Africa’s first black youth-owned candle manufacturing factory. Built a store and manufacturing space in Soweto.
- Shortlisted in the top eight of Engen Pitch & Polish competition, earning mentorship and exposure.
Each major milestone deepened The Light Candles’ visibility and credibility.
Actionable insight: Use local competition platforms and recognition to validate your brand and attract guidance.
Building Operations with Intention
Makatu bootstrapped his business, manufacturing from a two-room facility next to Maponya Mall. He invested carefully in eco-friendly, high-quality ingredients and molds to produce multiple candle shapes, pillars, scented glass jars, spiritual forms. He now employs a small team while scaling courier deliveries beyond Soweto.
Actionable insight: Scale with care, invest in the right equipment and operate sustainably.
Reaching Community Through Digital Storytelling
Though operating from Soweto, Makatu leveraged TikTok, Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook to tell his story. He positioned himself as a psychology graduate turned candle entrepreneur, emphasizing healing and community support. Posts highlight burnt-time tests, customer testimonials, and spiritual use cases.
Actionable insight: Use social media to humanize your brand and reach communities beyond your physical location.
Handling Challenges with Resilience
Like many small businesses, The Light Candles faced funding barriers, distribution limits, and daily customer demand. A lack of startup capital didn’t deter Makatu, he applied business mentorship and community participation to grow. Competition from national brands didn’t stop him; instead he leaned into quality, unique burn-time, and spiritual positioning.
Actionable insight: Persist through resource constraints by highlighting what makes your brand unique.
Seven Lessons from The Light Candles’ Flame
- Ground your vision in purpose that melds craft and healing
- Serve neglected segments with products built for function
- Use recognition and competitions to elevate credibility
- Grow through disciplined, sustainable operations
- Share your story openly online to expand reach and connection
- Meet challenges with resourcefulness and authenticity
- Focus on measurable product quality, a longer burn time fuels trust
Final Reflection
The Light Candles ZA shines not just from wax and wick, but from intent, resilience, and community legacy. Makatu’s journey transforms psychology into purpose, Soweto into a candle hub, and hardship into opportunity. His brand teaches that entrepreneurs who illuminate others, with empathy, quality, and transparency, are never alone: they light a path. For founders building brands in overlooked spaces, his story shows that a candle is more than a product, it is a vessel of hope.
