The Learners Who Hustle to Survive

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, host Bulelani Marwanqana shines a light on a growing, often overlooked reality in South African schools: learners who hustle and run small businesses—not for trend or clout, but to support their families and survive.

From selling snacks during break to braiding hair after school, many students are balancing academic expectations with the weighty responsibility of being breadwinners at home.

This episode explores:

The economic and social pressures pushing students into entrepreneurship

The emotional toll and resilience behind the hustle

Why some teachers misunderstand or mislabel hustling learners

Practical ways educators and schools can support, not shame, student entrepreneurs

A call to shift our lens—from punishment to understanding, from discipline to dialogue

Whether you're a teacher, learner, parent, policymaker—or someone who simply cares about education—this conversation will challenge, inspire, and encourage you to see the full story behind the uniform.

Because sometimes, the smartest kid in the room is also the one making sandwiches before sunrise.

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