Michael Nkalane
A KHAYELITSHA emerging entrepreneur is living testimony to the government’s initiative, Vukuzenzele (wake up and do it yourself), as her pizza business is booming and employs seven people.
Nokuthula Sigaba, 47, opened Sweet and Lovely pizza stall on a busy corner of Spine Road and Lwando Street in 2014, after quitting at a pizza place where she worked for six years.
Operating from a small kiosk with one mobile pizza cooking oven, she now has seven employees and an ever- increasing customer base with some coming from as far as Table View.
Sigaba said: “I did research and discovered we have every kind of food and take-away business in the township but there was no pizza outlet.
“That was when I decided to quit as a pizza baker and opened this business.”
The entrepreneur said what started with one flavour of pizza was now a thriving business and another kiosk was on the cards.
“I get calls throughout the day. I have employed seven people to help.
“Some didn’t have experience in making pizza, but I trained them,” she said.
Sigaba said she was sceptical in the beginning, but support has been overwhelming. “I decided to try (some) with common mushroom and vienna flavour.
“But I now have 15 flavours and the most sought-after is the most expensive one, Cape Town, a mixture of mushroom, onion, chicken, mince, steak, tomato and avocado, selling at R100 for a large.”
Kraaifontein resident Denzil Scheepers who works in Bellville said he drives to Khayelitsha whenever he craves a pizza.
“I drove from Bellville to buy this pizza for lunch beating traffic before lunch ends. Pizza here is good,” he said.
Sweet and Lovely pizza employee Lwanele Somerset said not only has he learnt how to make a pizza, he now also has a stable job.
“I am employed in the township now and no longer need transport fare and money for lunch.
“And I know how to make a pizza now for the first time in my life,” he said.
@siyaks