From law graduate to entrepreneur, in the face of adversity

SWEETMEATS, PURI AND PATHA

- MONISHKA GOVENDER

PIETERMARITZBURG residents and POST readers opened their hearts and wallets to the plight of law graduate Shamentha Naidoo when they turned up in numbers on Lakshmi Pooja and Raksha Bandhan, in support of her roadside business.

After years of hard work, late nights and unwavering dedication, Naidoo, 26, of Raisethorpe proudly graduated with a law degree from UKZN in 2020, and was ready to enter the legal profession. But life had other plans.

Faced with her mother's worsening illness, she made the courageous decision to put her legal career on hold and start a home-based business — Blooming Platter.

She hopes the business, which she started two weeks ago, will not only provide for her family, but give her the flexibility to be present for her mum.

Naidoo was proud to see that residents from Raisethorpe and surrounding areas in Pietermaritzburg supported her during Lakshmi Pooja and Raksha Bandhan at her stall on Friday and Saturday.

"Everything was sold out in record time. Despite advertising since mid-July, people only secured orders after my post on Facebook. Even more people reached out after the article was published on the POST website and social media pages.