“No Funding”: Woman Celebrates Property Achievement Without Inheritance in Kanana

• A young woman from Kanana shared a video of herself building property from scratch, with no financial help or family backing behind her
• The clip shows the full journey from open land to walls going up, and what she has managed to put together on her own
• South Africans flooded the comments with congratulations, with many saying she is a true role model
• Briefly News spoke to financial expert Farook Mohammed on how someone can build a property without using funding or taking out loans, and commercial property expert Rajesperi Naidoo on whether building a home in phases, instead of all at once, is a practical option for people without access to loans

One woman from the North West, Refilwe, shared a video on 11 March 2026 that had people stopping to take note. The BEd student, salon owner and entrepreneur from Kanana, posted footage of a property she is building entirely on her own. The clip shows open land between homes, construction workers on site, bricks going up and the early walls of what she is putting together from nothing. Her caption said it all:

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"No inheritance. No connections. No funding. No backup. Just a small girl from the township of Kanana building from scratch."

The video shows the progress in stages, from the bare land to the walls starting to take shape. There is no fancy funding, no family money and no one carrying the load for her. It's just her own effort and determination pushing the project forward.

What it costs to build in SA?

According to property experts at Private Property, building a home in South Africa is no small feat financially. The average cost of building a standard home currently sits between R10 000 and R15 000 per square metre in major centres. Using that as a base, a 200 square metre home could cost around R3 million before you factor in the land, professional fees, council approvals and finishes. For anyone building without a loan or family support, that is a serious amount to manage on your own.

Speaking to Briefly News writer Nerissa Naidoo, financial expert Farook Mohammed explained how someone can build a property without using funding or taking out loans:

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“Building a property without loans usually requires strong financial discipline and long-term planning. This can be done by saving in stages, buying materials over time, and building gradually as funds become available. While the process may take longer, it helps avoid debt and reduces financial pressure.”

When asked what financial planning tips people should follow if they want to build a home using only their own money. Farook Mohammed stated:

“People should start by setting a clear budget, tracking costs carefully and prioritising essential building phases first. It is also important to save consistently, compare material prices and avoid unnecessary upgrades until the basic structure is complete. This approach allows people to manage their cash flow while slowly working toward completing their home.”

Briefly News also spoke to entrepreneur and commercial property expert Rajesperi Naidoo on whether building a home in phases, instead of all at once, is a practical option for people without access to loans. She explained:

“Building in phases can be a practical route for people who do not want to rely on loans. Many homeowners start with the basic structure and then complete additional sections as money becomes available. This method will allow better financial control and also reduce debt risk, which is very important. But we must keep in mind that it will also give people time to plan each stage properly while still working toward owning a completed home.”

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Watch the Facebook video below:

SA celebrates woman's property achievement

People were genuinely moved by what Facebook user Refilwe is doing, and the comments on her clip showed it:

@KagontleMolefe said:

"Congratulations gojas."

@NeliswaAnitaGraceGalada said:

"Big girl purchases."

@OumaMotlhongtlhong said:

"Iyoo, I can't wait to visit you, friend. I'm happy for you. I know wena o go get tlhe. I'm so emotional, tlhe, modimo ke star."

@DikeledIMosehla said:

"I will keep on clapping for others until it's my turn, congratulations sis."

@MathapeloMasethi said:

"Look at GOD."

@ModimuLebohangTuse said:

"Congratulations Fifie. I like it when my people shine."

@InnocentiaMamiki said:

"Congratulations, ohhh nana, only God knows your hustle and all your sweat. He definitely came through."

@StellaZulu said:

"You're a true role model."

@TholwaanaThulee said:

"Congratulations Fifie."

More SA women building their own dreams

• Briefly News recently reported on a South African woman who shared a before-and-after video of her home transformation.
• A woman who spent most of her life in an informal settlement shared the moment she started building something better for her family, and her progress left people speechless.
• A young woman shared how she secured land for less than R5 000 and revealed exactly what her first step toward building a home cost her.

Source: Briefly News