Umhlali entrepreneur’s family-driven roti business serves fresh, local flavours
After losing his job during Covid-19, Lance and his family turned a humble backyard venture into a thriving business, serving fresh rotis to the Umhlali community.
It has been an up-and-down journey of survival and persistence for Lance Chinasamy since losing his job as a supervisor at Woolworths during Covid-19.
Faced with the need to support his family, the Umhlali local began by selling Hawaiian bananas from 20 trees in his backyard. This, he quickly realised, was not a sustainable solution. Together with his wife, Tanya, they pivoted to making fresh rotis, which they sold at Umhlali Prep and the Umhlali traffic circle.
In the hope of broadening his customer base, he moved to roadside outside Tiffany’s Centre where he could retain the school run clients while attracting more sales from the higher traffic volumes.
They named the business Yaya’s Rotis, inspired by Tanya’s nickname. Five years later, the rotis remain the Chinasamys’ sole source of income.
“This business allows me to pay my rent and bills, feed my family and send my twins, Hrithik and Hrithiksha, to school,” he said. “It’s a family operation – my wife makes the rotis, I sell them, and sometimes my son, Hrithik, helps deliver orders.”
Lance believes their success lies in the freshness and quality of their product.
“It took time to get here, but our customers come looking for me because we are selling something fresh, and they support local. It took time, but our customers come because they know our rotis are made daily, unlike the ones in supermarkets that are kept in fridges for days. Nothing beats a fresh roti – it’s magical!”
Lance is at his post at the traffic lights from noon until 5pm, seven days a week.
“The Salt Rock and surrounding communities have been there for me, helping me through thick and thin. There are many regulars who always support me.”
Despite the struggles, Lance finds strength in his family: “When I was at my lowest point, my family and the Lord were the ones who lifted me up.”
Contact Lance on 078 144 8690 for the freshest rotis on the North Coast.
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