South African media personality and entrepreneur Nonkanyiso “LaConco” Conco is heading back to an industry she once left behind. She has announced her return to the coal mining business, sharing new photos from a site in Mpumalanga and reflecting on the lessons she learned the first time around.
In an Instagram post this week, LaConco revealed that she was first introduced to the commodities sector in 2022 by a female friend. While the opportunity excited her, she quickly discovered that the business came with more than just financial promise.
“Dear coal, we cross paths again. I was first introduced to coal business by a good female friend back in 2022,” she wrote laConco said her initial experience in coal opened her eyes to both the potential and the pitfalls of working in South Africa’s resource sector.
“Entering the world of commodities opened my eyes to both opportunity and the harsh realities of greed, betrayal, loss and dishonesty,” she explained. “It became overwhelming, and I had to step away.”
The television personality and businesswoman has been open in the past about building multiple income streams outside of entertainment. From farming and cattle to beauty and media, she has positioned herself as an entrepreneur who is willing to take risks. But commodities, she admitted, was one of her hardest classrooms.
The coal industry is known for being capital-intensive, highly regulated, and competitive. For new entrants, especially women and young Black entrepreneurs, the barriers to entry can be steep. Contracts, logistics, compliance, and relationships all play a major role. LaConco’s decision to walk away in 2022, she says, came from needing to protect herself in an environment that felt unstable
This time, LaConco says she is returning with a different mindset. Instead of chasing quick wins, she wants to learn the industry properly and build long-term relationships.
“I am here ready to learn, grow, build meaningful relations, and understand this industry that powers economies, communities, and infrastructure,” she wrote alongside photos of herself at a mining site.
She described being drawn to the atmosphere of the mines — the activity, the machinery, the people.
“The smell of the dust, the sound of the machines, and the energy of this environment fulfills my heart,” she said.
Coal remains a backbone of South Africa’s economy, despite the global push toward renewable energy. It still provides jobs, supports communities, and powers a large portion of the country’s electricity grid. For entrepreneurs, that means there are still opportunities in supply, logistics, and services around mining operations, even as the sector faces transition pressure.
LaConco did not share details about specific projects or partnerships, but her tone suggested she is approaching this chapter with more caution and more research than before.
The former Real Housewives of Durban star also hinted that her drive to expand her business portfolio is tied to her role as a mother. She shares a son, Sakhaumuzi Zuma, with former president Jacob Zuma, and has often spoken about wanting to build generational wealth and stability for him.
Her public business moves over the last few years reflect that. In 2024 and 2025, she made headlines for launching a farm and cattle project, which she described as part of her plan to invest in agriculture and food security. She has also been active in television and brand work, but has consistently said her goal is to be known for more than reality TV.
LaConco first rose to national attention through reality television, but she has spent the last several years deliberately shifting her public image toward business. She’s spoken about surgeries, reinvention, and the pressure of being in the spotlight, but her recent posts have focused less on celebrity and more on work.
Returning to coal is a bold move, especially given how publicly she said the industry overwhelmed her before. By speaking openly about betrayal and dishonesty, she’s also highlighting a reality many entrepreneurs face in South Africa’s mining space: that access and trust are everything.
Her decision to document the return on Instagram suggests she wants to bring her audience along for the journey — not just to showcase success, but to show the process of learning.
It remains to be seen what form LaConco’s involvement in coal will take. The sector requires significant funding, licensing, and technical expertise. However, many new players start by partnering with established operations or by providing services to mines rather than owning them outright.
For now, LaConco is framing the move as personal growth as much as business. She’s not promising overnight success. She’s promising presence, patience, and a willingness to understand an industry that she admits once defeated her.
“Dear coal, we cross paths again,” she wrote. This time, she says, she’s ready to stay, to learn, and to build something that lasts.
As one of the few women publicly talking about entering mining, LaConco’s journey will likely be watched closely — both by fans who followed her from TV and by other entrepreneurs considering a move into commodities.
