For Thatohatsi Mangcu, beauty is not only about enhancing appearances, but also about restoring confidence, creating opportunities and reminding people that they are valued.
The founder of Lacquer Nail and Beauty Clinic in Atteridgeville, Pretoria West, and co-founder of House of Afrindi, a non-profit organisation focused on community empowerment, has transformed her passion for beauty into a platform for social change.
Through her businesses and community initiatives, Ms Mangcu has created a space where beauty services, skills development and community care come together. Her salon provides training opportunities for unemployed young people while also offering wellness experiences to senior citizens who often spend their lives caring for others.
“Lacquer is more than just a beauty salon. It is a space where beauty, wellness, skills development and community service come together,” Ms Mangcu said.
Her journey into entrepreneurship was shaped by perseverance and personal challenges. While studying Creative Brand Communication at Vega School of Brand Leadership, Ms Mangcu faced difficulties, including battling depression, raising a young child and taking six years to complete a qualification that was initially designed to take three years.
Despite these obstacles, she remained determined and eventually graduated. In 2016, she received the Vega Visual Communications Pencil, recognising her creativity and talent.
After gaining experience in the creative industry, Ms Mangcu realised she wanted to build something that combined her creativity, entrepreneurial ambitions and desire to make a difference.
“Beauty became the vehicle through which I could empower myself while creating opportunities for others. I wanted to prove that a business can be successful while making a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” she said.
Ms Mangcu said Lacquer Nail and Beauty Clinic was established with a purpose beyond providing beauty treatments.
“We don’t simply offer beauty services. we create transformation,” she said.
The salon has become a training environment where unemployed young people can gain practical skills and experience in the beauty industry, while clients receive services in a welcoming and supportive space.
One of the initiatives closest to Ms Mangcu’s heart is the senior citizens’ wellness programme, which she started after recognising that many elderly people dedicate their lives to supporting others but rarely receive the same care and attention.
“I wanted to create a space where they could relax, laugh, connect and be celebrated. Their stories, wisdom and resilience inspire me every week,” she said.
Ms Mangcu believes that self-care and feeling valued should not be limited to younger generations.
“We believe beauty and self-care are not luxuries reserved for the young. Everyone deserves to feel cared for, appreciated and dignified,” she said.
Her commitment to serving others has also been recognised by those close to her. Ms Aisha Eyo, who described Ms Mangcu as a sister and close friend, said her dedication to uplifting people reflects the kind of person she is.
“Thatohatsi is one of the kindest, most genuine, and hardworking people I have ever met. What started as a friendship with a stranger quickly turned into a sisterhood,” said Ms Eyo.
She described Ms Mangcu as someone who leads with humility, compassion and grace, making people around her feel noticed and appreciated.
According to Ms Eyo, Ms Mangcu’s work with senior citizens comes from a genuine love and respect for people.
“She understands that senior citizens deserve to feel appreciated, cared for, and beautiful just like everyone else. For Thatohatsi, serving them goes beyond providing a salon service, it is about restoring dignity, creating meaningful connections, and giving back to those who have paved the way for us,” she said.
Ms Eyo added that Ms Mangcu’s relationship with her grandmother has influenced the way she connects with elderly people.
“I think this stems from her love for her grandmother because she never forgets to mention her grandmother even in passing,” she said.
Ms Kefiloe Mametse, another Friend inspired by Ms Mangcu’s journey, said her work demonstrates that entrepreneurship can extend beyond financial success.
She said Ms Mangcu has created a space where people feel welcomed, cared for and uplifted.
Ms Mametse added that Ms Mangcu’s ability to combine business ambitions with compassion shows that entrepreneurs can play an important role in addressing challenges within their communities.
“She has shown that success is not only about what you achieve for yourself, but also about the lives you impact along the way,” Ms Mametse said.
However, building a business while pursuing a social mission has not been without challenges. Ms Mangcu said financial pressures, limited resources and moments of self-doubt have formed part of her entrepreneurial journey.
“Building a business while trying to make a social impact is not always easy because purpose often comes before profit,” she said.
Despite these challenges, Ms Mangcu said the difficulties she has faced have strengthened her resilience and commitment to her vision.
“I’ve learned that success isn’t about never falling, it’s about continuing to get back up and staying committed to your vision,” she said.
Looking ahead, Ms Mangcu hopes to expand House of Afrindi into an organisation that reaches more communities across South Africa.
Her plans include growing the senior wellness programme, creating more training opportunities for young people and collaborating with organisations that share her belief that small acts of kindness can create meaningful change.
Her message to aspiring entrepreneurs is that impact does not always require large resources.
“You don’t need millions of rands to make a difference. Consistency, compassion and purpose will take you much further than waiting for the perfect opportunity,” she said.
For Ms Mangcu, true success is measured by the difference one makes in others’ lives.
“Profit is important because it sustains the business, but purpose is what sustains the person behind it,” she said.
Through Lacquer Nail and Beauty Clinic and House of Afrindi, Thatohatsi Mangcu continues to prove that entrepreneurship can be more than a business venture, it can be a tool for restoring dignity, creating opportunities and transforming communities.
