MaNzuza, curry queen!
Running her own business is a rewarding challenge that gets her out of bed at 4.30am
The rich aromas of curry and phuthu waft across the Shakaskraal taxi rank every morning and afternoon, making the stomachs of those waiting to board grumble and enticing them into MaNzuza’s tent.
The unassuming cook from Nkobongo has been satisfying customers at the rank since 2012.
She said running her own business is a rewarding challenge that gets her out of bed at 4.30am, Monday to Friday, to prepare for the morning rush.
“I was working as an office administrator at one of the factories in Shaka’s Head, producing caskets. I got tired of working there and I decided to start my own business,” said Nhlanhla Nzuza.
The mother of two boys said her best-selling dish is beef curry and phuthu.
Her menu includes pap and nhloko (head meat) for R35, beef or chicken curry with rice or phuthu. You can also enjoy a tasty bean curry with the fried beef. For this, you have a choice of medium (R20) or large (R28). She also makes a lipsmacking breakfast of an egg and mayo sandwich (with four slices of bread) for R10 and a cup of coffee or tea for R5.
A taxi rank is not always perceived as a safe place but Nzuza said that this does not bother her because “anything can happen even if I am not at the rank”.
“It is a male-dominated place but fortunately I grow up with boys at home. I get along well with all my male clients. It is actually very interesting to work with them, you get to meet many different personalities,” said Nzuza.
What keeps her going is the love of cooking.
“When you are cooking you need to take every criticism seriously and have the passion for what you doing.”
She said her fiancé and her parents are very supportive and that makes it easy for her to balance her business and home duties.
“I do not have to worry about preparing the kids for school because their dad does that for me.”
Besides taxi owners and drivers, she gets support from nurses, truck drivers, police and surrounding businesses in Shakaskraal.
“I even have people who come all the way from Durban to buy my food,” said Nzuza with a proud smile.
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