At the Durban University of Technology (DUT) entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation are driving forces behind student success and societal impact. One such inspiring example is Nqobile Nongcebo Mgwaba (22) from Amanzimtoti, a third-year Diploma in Consumer Sciences: Food and Nutrition student, and the founder and CEO of Flavors of Home Spices.
Mgwaba’s journey is rooted in a strong educational foundation. A proud alumna of Vukile High School in Maphumulo, she credits the school’s culture of discipline, academic rigor, and purpose for shaping who she is today. Under the leadership of Mr. Njapha, the school instilled values of hard work, dedication, and resilience principles that continue to guide her approach to both her studies and entrepreneurship. She carries these lessons with gratitude and a commitment to making a positive impact in her community and beyond.
Flavors of Home is a food manufacturing brand that produces high-quality spice blends made from scratch, using carefully selected herbs and spices.
“The brand offers a wide range of health-conscious options, including low-salt, sugar-free, and gluten-free blends suitable for vegan, Banting, and Keto lifestyles, alongside traditional spice mixes for everyday cooking. The mission was to make healthy food flavorful and accessible to everyone,” said Mgwaba.
The idea of Flavors of Home was born from a deep personal experience. When Mgwaba’s mother was diagnosed with ulcers, the family had to adopt a bland diet. She quickly realised that food without spices was not just tasteless, it was demotivating. Drawing on her knowledge from DUT, she began experimenting with gentle, stomach-friendly spice blends. What started as a solution for her mother soon became a household staple, and that is when she realised she had something special.
She officially launched Flavors of Home in 2022, and her entrepreneurial journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Mgwaba has participated in the Spice Development Project, completed the Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP), and earned third place in the SEP pitching competition. She was also selected for the prestigious World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) programme, an experience she described as truly transformative.
“Studying Food and Nutrition at DUT gave me a strong foundation to build something sustainable on my own terms. My toughest pitch was not in a boardroom, but in a Food Science class an experience that taught me resilience. By the time I pitched at the SEP competition, it felt effortless, shaping me into a confident and determined young entrepreneur,” she expressed.
To fellow students, Mgwaba also offers heartfelt encouragement: “Do not give up on your dreams, no matter the obstacles. Find what you love in your course and chase opportunities. You are not alone in struggling with many people are, they just don’t share their stories. Keep pushing. One day, you will look back and smile.”
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: “Build a strong foundation, solve real problems, surround yourself with the right people, and seize opportunities. At DUT, she strongly resonates with the value of Innovation embracing creativity to develop solutions that matter.”
As Flavors of Home continues to grow, she remains driven by her passion for healthy, flavorful food. She sees entrepreneurship not just as building a business, but as building a community creating value that genuinely improves people’s lives.
Looking back, she understands that her journey is defined not only by success, but by struggle, growth, and the people she has met along the way. And with that perspective, Mgwaba is excited, grounded, and determined to see what comes next.
Pictured: Student entrepreneur, Nqobile Mgwaba.
Phiwayinkosi Sibiya
