Nigel-born entrepreneur Zano Mnguni is propelling his 100% black-owned haircare business, Zee Afro Hair, to new heights after securing a deal to supply selected Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores in Gauteng. In less than a year, Zee Afro Hair has expanded from supplying five stores to 15.
With this growth, Mnguni has been able to employ eight people and anticipates creating more jobs as the business continues to expand. The company recently upgraded from its rented facility to a larger factory space in Pomona, East of Johannesburg, and acquired new machinery previously beyond reach.
Mnguni left the corporate world in 2013 to pursue entrepreneurship. His inspiration for starting a haircare brand came from his experience helping friends who owned a salon in Duduza, Nigel. There, he gained insights into haircare product ingredients.
Initially, Mnguni sold his products through social media, salons, and word-of-mouth. In 2020, he enlisted biochemists to subject his products to rigorous testing—including stability, enzyme, and quality assessments—with the goal of entering mainstream retail.
After persistent efforts, Mnguni signed a deal with Checkers in 2022. “I had seen an article about how they assist small businesses. I needed to get my foot in the door. Even one store would have been great. Checkers gave me more than that and accelerated our growth as a business. Now more customers have access to our products,” said Mnguni.
The Zee Afro Hair range consists of five herbal products focused on hairline restoration, protection, and growth of natural hair. Priced at under R100 each, the premium products offer excellent value, making them accessible to a wider market.
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