Letah is her village’s kota queen
The 22-year-old Letah Mhlongo delivers kotas to the villages of Mageva, Ndhambi, Daniel and Maphata.
POLOKWANE – Letah Mhlongo is a site to behold when she makes kota deliveries at her village, Mageva in Giyani.
The 22-year-old is the kota queen of the village and has revolutionised the delivery of kotas in her village. She currently studies towards her postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) at the University of Cape Town and studied BSc chemistry at the University of Pretoria.
She explained that the inspiration for the business came during level four of the nationwide lockdown.
Letah said she started the business as she wanted people in her village to experience the feeling of having food delivered to their doorstep.
“People in deep rural villages do not have such luxuries. We are not on the map of most delivery services, but here, I deliver for free,” she explained.
When she started the business, she had just her younger sister on her team but she has now enlisted the assistance of two more people in order to meet the demand for her now famous kota deliveries.
Letah makes use of her bicycle and expanded her deliveries to the nearby villages of Ndhambi, Daniel and Maphata.
“The business has been going great ever since it started, but my problem is stock. I cannot buy in bulk and sometimes I find that there is no stock. Another challenge is that the bicycle gives us problems and then people receive their orders late. Thankfully, they have been very understanding.”
Her business is booming as a result of social media and she has made waves on Twitter as she received over 22 000 likes in 24 hours. People in her village and surrounding can place orders via WhatsApp or calls at 063 232 6220, alternatively, message Letta Mhlongo on Facebook.
