Today, he is the owner of Pick n Pay's first family franchise store in Mabopane which opens for business on 17 April, and Steve and his two brothers and sister will never have to worry again about having enough food.
The group's Emerging Market Division, which focuses on developing and growing black entrepreneurs for the company's Franchise Division, is busy converting a Score store in the town into a family franchise store.
The company announced in October 2007 that a large number of its Score stores would be converted to Pick n Pay Family stores, creating 82 new black entrepreneurs, and, in most cases, doubling the number of employees in each store.
The Mabopane store will be the fifth store to be converted. The others are at Bara City in Soweto, Hendrina in Mpumalanga, Vosloorus in Erkhuruleni and Bloemfontein. The group is currently converting two stores a month.
For Mahope, his rags-to-riches story is a glowing testament to his hard work and dedication, and he says he is committed to offering his customers an enjoyable, satisfying and efficient shopping experience in a pleasant environment with superb service complemented by on-going promotions and great prices.
“My store will live up to the Pick n Pay mantra ‘Inspired by you',” he says.
