Ex-offender cooks up success with popular kota spot in Thembisa

Delisa Bembe, born and raised in the heart of Thembisa, grew up during the difficult economic climate of the 1980s and 1990s.

Despite the financial hardships that surrounded many township families, Bembe was fortunate to grow up in a loving four-room home under the care of his grandparents.

He had many comforts, but one challenge stood in his way – he is partially deaf in one ear, which made it difficult to follow class lessons, leading him to drop out early.

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Refusing to let him give up, his family arranged for him to move in with his mother and stepfather in Khalambaso, where he enrolled at a new school. There, Bembe excelled academically and quickly rose to the top of his class.

But as he entered high school, Bembe, like many young boys in the township, found himself drawn to the flashy lifestyle of local gangsters.

“The fast life and fast cash were what inspired many of us back then. Seeing big guys drive classy cars, wear expensive jewellery, and live it up made crime seem like the answer,” he said.

Bembe and his friends began dabbling in petty crime, stealing wheel caps from parked cars and selling them to local buyers.

With access to a car through one of the boys, their small operation quickly expanded. At one point, they were even receiving requests for specific wheel caps.

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“One night, after working at an event at Emperors Palace, we waited for the function to end and then cleaned out all the wheel caps we could find. It was one of our biggest scores,” he recalled.

This double life caught up with him.

Despite his early promise as a top student, his criminal lifestyle derailed his education.

His dream of becoming a chartered accountant slipped through his fingers.

His stepfather, still believing in him, paid for his marketing studies, but Bembe failed his first year and dropped out multiple times.

“I eventually told him I couldn’t keep wasting his money,” he said.

Back on the streets, Bembe continued with crime. His arrest came after he and a group of seven hijacked a truck loaded with electronic goods worth nearly R1m.

They used two vehicles – a bakkie and a BMW. The plan was to dump the truck drivers far from the scene, but police spotted the BMW with two tied-up men on the back seat.

In 2000, the SAPS arrested Bembe and his co-accused. In 2001, the court sentenced them to 15 years for truck hijacking and 10 years for kidnapping.

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While incarcerated at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre (Sun City), Bembe worked in the kitchen, an experience that would later change the course of his life.

Released in 2007, he used the skills he had learnt behind bars to open a restaurant in 2008. His kotas quickly became popular, and his business flourished.

“I found purpose. I wrote a book on how to make the perfect kota, not just for food lovers but for aspiring entrepreneurs. I also started sharing my prison journey online, and Mr Mbhele encouraged me to write a full memoir,” he said.

Bembe admits to many regrets but is proud of how far he has come.

He now employs others, supports his child’s education, and continues to serve the Thembisa community with food that has stood the test of time.

“For 16 years, I’ve been selling food. I’ve seen ministers, celebrities, and loyal community members enjoy what I serve. That’s what keeps me going, turning pain into purpose.”