Tembisa’s Bhembe: From jailbird to kota king
Tembisa entrepreneur thrives in business with skills he acquired in prison.
Entrepreneur Delisa Bhembe’s kota business has been booming since he was released from jail in 2007.
Learning from his mistakes, the owner of DelisaBhem Restaurant in Emangweni Section rose to be a successful kota king in his neighbourhood.
Bhembe was convicted for truck hijacking and kidnapping and sentenced to 25 years in jail. His sentence was reduced to 15 years after an appeal. He was eventually released for good behaviour.
Bhembe said he acquired his kitchen skills when he was serving his sentence in jail.
“While in prison, I used to cook for fellow prisoners before I was promoted to work in the main kitchen, cooking for wardens and prison visitors.
“After being released, I tried looking for a job but my criminal record was always a stumbling block.
“In November 2008, my late father asked what I really wanted to do with my life and at I remembered I had skills gained from my time in prison. He sponsored me with R10 000 to start my business.”
Bhembe agrees that people tend to have different views about you when you come from prison, but he says when it came to business, it was a different story.
“Within the first month of opening, I had people coming in non-stop. I call it ‘beginners luck’ in a way because people did not shower me with resentment, but they embraced my struggles and uplifted me.”
Today he is known for his much bigger toasted bread kotas, sandwiches and burgers. Bhembe is also a job creator as he employs five full-time staff members. From kota king to catering master, he won the heart of Jet stores in Ekurhuleni and provides them his catering services.
“For the past two years, I have been catering for Jet stores in Tembisa Plaza, Birch Acres, Festival Mall, Phumulani Mall and Tembi Plaza. I have also catered for Anova Health Institute, a non-government organisation based in Midrand.”
Bhembe has risen from being a jailbird to a kasi hero. Previously, he has sponsored Miss and Mr Hospital View with catering, supported the 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Children Abuse campaign, and continuously prepares packed lunches for learners of Emangweni Primary School when they go to other schools to take part in competitions.
