Neo Manana Lechela
Youth in Business & Entrepreneurship
Nominee's Province:
Free State
Age:
35
Project Name/Description:
Neo Lechela (35) is a determined entrepreneur from Welkom in the Free State who turned personal hardship into a thriving business. She’s the eldest of three, raised by her mother, Mme Mateboho Lechela, after her parents’ painful divorce. “My dad left and took everything—cars, furniture, even his money. We struggled for years,” she says. In the face of this adversity, Neo chose action. With nothing but empty 2-litre bottles and a dream, she started selling homemade ice at local hangout spots. In 2021, she formalised Neza Ice, a business inspired by a real need she saw at sports events. “Soccer players complained about warm water, and there was never ice for injuries. Spectators would even leave the games to get ice. I thought, ‘Why not bring it to them?” Her days begin with prayer, then she’s off to pack, deliver, attend training, meet clients, and repeat. But success didn’t come easy. “There were times I had more customers than I could supply. I tried to buy from established white-owned suppliers in town, but they refused to sell to me. That just pushed me to work harder.” Today, Neo proudly runs the business with six ice-making machines and a large freezer room, supplying Welkom and nearby towns—and creating jobs along the way. She credits her resilience to faith, her mother’s prayers, and a circle of close mentors and friends. “This isn’t just about selling ice—it’s about showing young black women that we can start something new and thrive.” Her message is clear: “Get up and START. Even if it’s hard, keep going.”
