Tavern Reviews: At your Service

THIKO’S LIQUOR RESTAURANT Owner: Jomo Thiko | Organisation: NTHA AT YOUR SERVICE Spotong chats to leading liquor traders How did you get into the tavern trade? I got into this trade in 2004. I wasn’t working at the time and there were no taverns in Vlakfontein so I found an opportunity and gave the community a service that they needed. What do you enjoy most about being a tavern owner? My patrons and I have so much fun and we all enjoy each other’s company so I enjoy the close friendships and bonds that are formed. My tavern is very popular with the older crowd and my tavern attracts peaceful patrons so I really look forward to seeing everyone each day. The patrons make the business worthwhile. Do you have future plans for your tavern? Yes, I want to grow it into a bigger business. It is already so big with 11 employees but I want to see how successful I can make it. How do you give back to your community? I don’t sell food from my own tavern but I have allowed community members to earn a decent living by preparing and selling food to my patrons. They have full use of the outside area in front of my tavern and I am glad that they are able to also be successful entrepreneurs with the opportunity that I have given them.

Location: 2484 Vlakfontein, Station 2, Woodpecker Street, Vlakfontein

Jomo Thiko

KWA MNAKA TAVERN Owner: Alfred Langa | Organisation:NTHA

How did you get into the tavern trade?

I started in 2003. I started on a very small scale with one case. I left my job because I wanted to have a better focus on my own business instead of making an employer rich. It is now run as our family business and my wife, son and daughter all work with me. I went from trading with one case to now stocking more than three hundred cases at a time!

What challenges do you face in this industry?

I have been so lucky and blessed trading in this industry and I have no complaints!

Do you have future plans for your tavern?

Yes. I am leaving this business to both of my kids. This will be my legacy that I leave to them. I am grateful that I can leave a thriving and successful business to them one day considering where I started.

How do you give back to your community?

I assist the schools and crèches in my community by donating money, buying school uniforms and spoiling the kids with donations of food.

Location: 38/3 Ingrid Street,

Vlakfontein

NOZI’S TAVERN Owner: Nozibele Nomnqa | Organisation: KALTA

How did you get into the tavern trade?

I started my tavern in 2000. I was a domestic worker and I was battling to make ends meet as my husband passed on and I was alone trying to raise my three sons who were very young at the time. I had no money for school fees, uniforms or food and I was always worrying. I decided to take the plunge and started trading with one case of beer out of my bedroom in my RDP house. SAB came to see me shortly after that and they assisted me with more stock, signage and branding. It all happened very fast. Because of SAB’s assistance with growing my small business, I was able to renovate my home with the proceeds of my business. I built on for my tavern and I installed toilets and windows. I am grateful to God and SAB for assisting me in those early days.

What challenges do you face in this industry?

The crime! My tavern has been targeted three times since I opened. On 31 December 2018, we were robbed and four of my patrons were killed. The criminals took money and tobacco and they robbed three taverns in the same evening! We need assistance from the police because it is not safe for us.

Do you have future plans for your tavern?

I want to trade as a bottle store instead of a tavern. It is safer and I feel that I am now too old to operate a tavern and I want peace and quiet.

How do you give back to your community?

I am a community leader in my area so I assist with food hampers, clothing, money and advice to those in need. People like to come to me for help and I believe that God sends them to me.

Nozibele Nomnqa, owner of Nozi's Tavern

Location: 1563 Greenfields Street, Thokoza, Ekurhuleni

MUSA’S INN Owner: Musa Ntshangase | Organisation: BVFBAHow did you get into the tavern trade?

I opened my tavern in 2006. My stokvel group suggested that I start trading because there was no entertainment place for us in our area to come together and relax at the time.

What challenges do you face in this industry?

My main challenge is that we don’t receive support from the Department of Economic Development. We also suffer with all the “sin taxes” and I feel that they should offer support so that we can grow our taverns because we also create jobs with our small businesses.

What sets your tavern apart from the rest of the taverns in your area?

My tavern is known as “The Clubhouse” and it is the best because the atmosphere and entertainment are great and the food is even better. I serve a delicious menu of light meals which include sandwiches, boerewors rolls and steak and chips.

How do you give back to your community?

In summer, I cut everyone’s grass! I also assist throughout the year with food and donations to help as many people as I can.

Location: 15792 Ext 16, Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni

MARY’S INN Owner: Mary Msibi | Organisation: SALTA

How did you get into the tavern trade? I started very small in 1999 until I finally got my shebeen permit in 2007. I started because I wanted to be my own boss. Before I started, I belonged to many Stokvel groups, namely, the Castle Lite Stokvel, The OGs of Alexandra and the Hunter’s Dry Stokvel. I used my stokvel money to grow my business. Mary’s Inn is now also the “unofficial” clubhouse for Pirates supporters – but Chiefs fans are also welcome! What challenges do you face in this How do you encourage your patrons to drink responsibly? I always encourage my patrons to eat before they start drinking and I do have meals that I provide for them at a small cost. I also encourage them to drink water. When you enter my tavern, there is a big sign saying that states “No children allowed” and “No under 21s.” I know that the legal age to drink is 18 but I changed that rule to suit my tavern because the youngsters are the ones who don’t know how to drink responsibly. industry? I am struggling to get a proper trading license so that I can operate as a tavern. I am currently trading on a shebeen permit and I really want to be recognised as a tavern owner. Another challenge that I face is the desire to separate my business and my home. It is difficult when you operate your business from your home because you cannot rest properly. How do you give back to your community? I will assist anyone who requires some form of assistance and if I am able to help then they can definitely count on me! In my community, I always help with funerals of the people who have

Mary Mbisi

passed on. That is my way of giving back to those who have supported me.

Location: 3616 Grace Ntseni Street,

Alexandra

VIVIAN’S PLACE Owner: Sharon Hlapa Teffo | Organisation: SALTA

How did you get into the tavern trade? My parents started the tavern in 1993 and I grew up in this tavern. The tavern is named after my mom and it is our family legacy. In 2004 my husband, Sammy, and I took over the running of the tavern. My parents have since retired in Limpopo and they are now pensioners.

What challenges do you face in this industry?

Right now my main challenge is that our permits expire on 2 November 2019 and I am really worried that we won't be able to renew our permits because the laws regarding permits change all the time. I want to continue operating legally with either a renewed permit or a liquor trading license but we need assistance on the way forward because we are responsible traders.

How do you give back to your community?

I assist my community members and give back by allowing them to prepare and sell food outside of my tavern. In that way, the community members also benefit and my patrons have a wide variety of food to choose from so no-one ever goes hungry.

Do you have future plans for your tavern?

My future plans include renovating and leaving a successful business to the next generation so I am actively growing this business for them. I also want my business to assist more communities and community members. There is an old age home next door and I would like to do more for them as a business.

Location: 125 Corner 8th Route,

Alexandra