After a traumatic experience as a child, Tshego Mputle found comfort in crafts and art, using creativity to cope. Years later, that same creative instinct followed her into the kitchen, where she began experimenting with infused sugars, Himalayan salts, and local herbs.
That experimentation eventually grew into Tshego M Creations, an agroprocessing business reimagining atchar and other condiments into creative, modern flavours.
Mputle attended school in her hometown in Luka Village, Rustenburg, North West. She grew up in a close-knit community where strong family bonds and open spaces kept her grounded. Looking back, she describes it as a place of both beauty and grounding influence.
“Life was tough. At the age of five, I survived a devastating family trauma; a rape that left me silent and withdrawn for years,” she says.
“Those trials built resilience in me and pushed me to seek purpose so my past would not define my future.”
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Building TshegoM Creations
Mputle attended Thethe High, where she was introduced to agricultural studies. After matric, she enrolled at Damelin College to study project management.
Her formal agricultural training only came in mid-2025 through Stellenbosch University’s Rustenburg Agricultural Living Lab programme, where she is currently a beneficiary.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to learn about sustainable agriculture, agroprocessing, and business development,” she says.
She adds that the programme has added significant value, helping her gain practical skills, build networks, and improve her production processes.
Her business journey began informally during the Covid-19 lockdown, when she was simply trying to stay occupied and grounded.
“I’d always been into arts and crafts, and I started experimenting with herbs and spices in my kitchen. But I fell in love with the process. At the time, I was just doing it for fun, but it eventually became the foundation of TshegoM Creations.”
A homegrown food innovation journey
TshegoM Creations Pty Ltd was officially launched in 2022.
Mputle now crafts natural condiments such as infused mayo, atchar, atchar paste, peanut butter, granola, muesli, and even peanut coffee, all rooted in local flavours.
Most of the work is hands-on, while building relationships with local women farmers as she looks to expand.
Her ingredients come from trusted suppliers in Rustenburg and surrounding areas, where she focuses on quality, freshness, and sustainability.
The business is based in Luka, Rustenburg, and is not yet stocked in retail stores. It grows through farmers’ markets and exhibitions around Rustenburg, with word-of-mouth and social media driving visibility.
“People love our story and the products, and they share them within their networks,” she says.
Her connection to food comes from home. She remembers her late aunt, Esther Mputle, a strong cook, and as a child who often kept to herself, she would spend time helping in the kitchen. “It was a fun experience, moments where we would just soak up all the love and flavours,” she says.
Her mother, Dorah, is also a good cook, and family gatherings are always centred around food, stories, and laughter.
For her, food is not just cooking or business. It is community, memory, and tradition that continue to shape who she is today.
Growing a purpose-driven food brand
Mputle says what they do at TshegoM Creations is not new, but what sets them apart is the innovation, love, and care they put into every product.
“We’re not just about producing; we’re about crafting natural, unique condiments that tell a story. Right now, I’m proud of our infused mayo and atchar paste; they’re game-changers.”
At the heart of TshegoM Creations, she explains, is a mission to address hunger and poverty through sustainable agroprocessing by delivering nutritious, community-sourced products that empower local producers.
She aims to create jobs, showing that agriculture is the future and a green diamond.
“Agriculture changed my life, and I encourage women and young people to embrace it because it holds real economic opportunity.”
Mputle shares advice for aspiring agripreneurs:
- Start small, dream big: Begin with what you have and grow step by step.
- Know your story, tell your story: Your unique narrative is your brand foundation.
- Quality is key: Focus on producing products that build trust.
- Network and collaborate: Build relationships with entrepreneurs, farmers, and mentors.
- Resilience is everything: Agribusiness can be tough, so stay focused, adapt, and keep going.
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