TavERN aND RESTaURaNT REvIEWS

SpOTS TO WINE & DINE Roots Restaurant & Gallery is an upmarket jazz restaurant and art gallery owned by Reggie Makhetha. Reggie opened Roots Restaurant & Gallery in 2008 and after being in business for only six months, Roots Restaurant & Gallery won the 2008 SAB Kickstart competition. SAB Kickstart is a project aimed at inculcating a culture of entrepreneurship among young people between the ages of 18 and 35. “I am most humbled at being awarded the SAB Kickstart Entrepreneur Award. Winning this award helped me build a completely unique business on a much larger scale than ever possible.” Roots Restaurant & Gallery is more than just an entertainment or a pub space, it’s a spot that celebrates township spirit and offers both local and international patrons an experience that can be matched by none. The soft, easygoing background music, artwork and food bring sweet nostalgia, while the service, décor & ambience befit modern luxury without getting stuffy. This award winning restaurant is the only restaurant in Soweto with a professional art gallery. “We are where life begins that is why Roots came to fruition. It celebrates the many moons of township life,” says Makhetha. The restaurant is cosily nestled between the famous Morrison Isaacson High School, where thousands of youths started their march against Bantu education 32 years ago; and the Oppenheimer Tower, another popular tourist site in Soweto. The restaurant boasts a lounge, a dining area, an art gallery and a balcony from where one can quietly enjoy the view of life in Soweto. ROOTS RESTaURaNT & GaLLERY

home of Music

Mjake’s Place

Owner of Ekhaya Lo Music, Mlungisi Majola.

Ekhaya Lo Music in Tlama-Tlama section, in the heart of Tembisa is a home away from home for older and more mature people.

Owned by Mlungisi Majola, Ekhaya Lo Music is a perfect place to have a drink after a long work day and spend a laid back afternoon or evening with friends on the weekend. “This is not just a tavern, but is also a home away from home for people who love music, social vibes and want to spend quality time in a place that spreads positive attitude and culture.” Majola says his tavern exclusively caters for people over the age of 25. This is his duty towards having responsible conduct because he believes older people must not socialise with youngsters. In his tavern he plays music genrés that are targeted at the older generation, such as jazz and afro pop. Majola says being a member of the Gauteng Liquor Forum has helped him understand the do’s and don’ts of liquor trading. As a former Siemens inventory controller, who turned to entrepreneurship, Majola is now making waves in the township entertainment industry. He says as part of his social responsibility and giving back to his community, every year he donates school uniforms to the underprivileged children at Entshonalanga Primary School because this is the same community that made him what he is today.

Mjake’s Place has been around for the last 22 years. The jazzy tavern, opened by Mjabeng Mkhize after she lost her job as a pharmacist, was started when she converted one of her living rooms into a shebeen.

The tavern offers comfortable seating with contemporary décor and it is the ultimate venue for anyone who enjoys a stylish surrounding. It is a great place to go for a drink, especially since there are very few other taverns in the area that offer the same exclusivity. Mkhize says that over the years she has seen her business grow from a humble and small shebeen, where she used to stock a few crates of beer, into becoming a reputable tavern which now sells a huge quantity of liquor. “When I was born, my mother was running a shebeen, and I went to school supported by the money generated from a shebeen. Also, my children are in college, their fees paid by the shebeen money. I believe in hard work and focusing on my strengths! That’s why, today I am the most successful tavern owner in my area,” says Mkhize.