Breakfast at the rank

The delicious smell of breakfast frying at Maphumulo taxi rank’s Idlanathi (‘Eat with us’), is so good that you simply cannot resist it, even if it makes you a few minutes late.

Inside the small container restaurant, you will be greeted by two friendly young taxi rank chefs, Nonjabulo Tshabalala and her cousin Khululiwe Mchunu.

Tshabalala and Mchunu wake up at 3am every morning at their home in Thukela, near Doringkop, to get to the rank to start cooking by 4.30am.

“Our first customer usually comes in around 5am and by that time we should be done preparing breakfast and ready to serve our customers,” said Tshabalala.

At 6am the two ladies start preparing lunch for the hungry taxi commuters.

On the menu is everyone’s favourite macaroni and cheese with mince, beef or chicken with phutu and rice. Or you can sample one of their fragrant curries.

Everything has to be delicious, because competition is tough as there are about 20 to 25 people cooking at the Maphumulo and Stanger Taxi ranks, one at Shakaskraal and five at the Ballito rank.

The variety of options is large, with everything from traditional Dombolo dumplings and Usu (ox tripe) to curries and hot dogs available for sale at their competitors’ stalls.

Tshabalala was a hospitality student at Ethekwini college, but due to financial problems, she dropped out during her final year.

“My mum, Ntombifuthi Kubheka, helped me start this business so that I can save and get back to college to finish my course,” said Tshabalala.

Besides raising money for Tshabalala, they want to open a catering company and extend their business at the Maphumulo rank.

“We are in the process of offering Shisanyama (braaied meat) and we hope to soon have a small tent where our customers can sit and enjoy they meal,” said Tshabalala.

For now, the two ladies will keep the aroma of curry steaming from the pot, making sure that the taxi drivers and their passengers are on the road with full, happy stomachs.