Merchant Stories: Steers Owner Mmabatho Hlabangane

Mmabatho Hlabangane, owner of Steers and Fishaways in Elspark, describes the initial months of the pandemic as “incredibly difficult and very worrying.” Like many South African entrepreneurs, she felt unsettled about a future that could involve job losses, and she worried about the challenging role she might play in this uncertain economy.

To sustain her business during the early stages of lockdown, Mmabatho focused on keeping expenses as low as possible, understanding that recovery would require a lean and efficient operation. While she recognizes there is still a long way to go, she began searching for the right funding partner to support her through these challenging months.

She is grateful to have found Merchant Capital, stating, “It was so hard to secure funding through traditional and Covid-relief channels. But Merchant Capital provided a refreshing experience where not only was the application process quick and thorough, but the whole transaction was frictionless.” In times like these, it’s a relief to have processes that come easily.

Mmabatho adds that without the funding from Merchant Capital, she isn’t sure her businesses would have survived this challenging period. “No question about it,” she continues, “Merchant Capital was there when I needed them most, and they have been absolutely instrumental in saving my business!”

‍