TAVERN REVIEWS
MUMMY’S PLACE
beer ... Your maternal home of adowlands Me 9 ne understanding with Location: 1937 Zo
Sny-man. Not only did the commissioner lisa Motsamai, better known in the agree to their terms of community as “Mommy”, has at business, but he took it the age of 66 been more than a upon himself to closely mother to the community of zone monitor and assist; 9 and those neighbouring. It all began he offered advice and with the formation of the association guided their ways with a NTHA in the year 2000, together with the condition that after three two women Fani Mokoena and the late months’ probation, if the crime level was Mavis Moelase, with genuine assistance the same or had gone up, all shebeens from the then station commissioner of would be shut down. Meadowlands, an Afrikaans man they Mommy Elisa Motsamai, although called “Sny-man”. she began operating from 1988, only Mommy recalls how back in 1988 when obtained her permit in 2003. Her she first began crime was the order of beginnings were humble: she had to the day, and how Sny-man then had to run her business in her four-roomed command that di-Spoto (shebeens) be family house, which has now been closed down. This is where the Batswana extensively extended and renovated. proverb “Mmangwana oo tshwara thipa The establishment is now successfully kafa bogaleng” came ino relevance: operating and can accommodate 50 the 3 women of NTHA had to step patrons to its capacity. It has a total of in, with the previous knowledge and three employees. Mommy also offers understanding of previous associations, her customers a meal that is every NAFCOC and SALTA, and they had to put township’s favourite; half skop (pig on a brave face to reach an unwritten head), pap and her famous chakalaka.
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A Portugese proverb suggests that “money is not gained by losing time.” Mme Mapula proves to have followed suit: she only obtained her permit in 2007 but had long begun with her business; the permit was 5 years late as she began in the year 2002. Balancing her income with the few profits that come with maotwana and bunny chows, 28
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She currently resides with one of her daughters and three grandchildren. For a single mother to three children, after the husband lost his life in a car crash, Mommy has done amazingly well for herself and the children. She prides herself hugely too on the gift of life of education she granted them. Smoking at Mummy’s place has its own designated areas. Halala Mommy Elisa Motsamai! This is a success story of note!
business remains quite a promising pursuit. The community of Tladi are well taken care of: they know very well that they can rely on Mapula’s Inn - a place to be rid of thirst and fill their tummy’s; not even the famously famished “ScoobyDoo” would complain. Mapula’s Inn does not disappoint: Spotong has only been there once but has fallen in love with the authentic township feel it has, the decor, its traditional food, down to the setup of tables and chairs, the drinks come in cots, you would think you are in the middle of Hollywood. “My association with NTHA taught me how to manage my business well and most importantly being crime alert as I only reside with my partner and so far only needed one employee. I remember how I started with off-consumption (take away) trading, and later had to reroute to in-consumption (stay in) trading, it has been a journey, ”says Mapula Sekwati. “If you believe in yourself and have dedication, pride and never subjecting self to quit, you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards.”
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MAPULA’S INN other? Would you say no to an eet Tladi Str Location 1104 Majoro
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hy would you say no to another beer? We were captivated by how neat and clean the yard was, the soothing sounds of your Sunday classics, just the right feel to township life, another attraction being the mouth-watering aroma of her famous maotwana (chicken feet). Mme Mapula welcomed Spotong into her lovely lounge and again welcomed the ten-minute interview we conducted. The last thing Spotong wants is to keep entrepreneurs away from duty for too long!
She however has quite strict rules about who she allows in her establishment: teenagers have no place whatsoever at Mummy’s.
