Ntombi Molefe dubbed ‘Kota Queen’ started a rapidly growing kota business in Reedville, Springs, during lockdown.
With 80% of her clientele coming from outside of Reedville, especially for her kotas, which are popular due to her ‘secret sauce’ recipe – she plans to be the first person to own a kota franchise in the country.
For 35-year-old Molefe, passion and perseverance were needed to turn a small-town kitchen dream into a fast-growing business.
Known in her close circle as ‘Nomakishi’ (meaning the kitchen lady), Molefe says she was destined for a culinary calling even before she took her first breath.
“Born in my family’s kitchen, I was nicknamed by my grandmother, who foresaw the connection between this space of creation and my future,” says Molefe.
However, like many ambitious young South Africans, Molefe’s teenage dreams were set on a different path – neurology.
Molefe poured her energy into math and science during high school, envisioning herself as a neurologist.
However, life had other plans, guiding her back to the kitchen, where her entrepreneurial journey would flourish. In 2019, she founded her catering company with a leap of faith and an unlikely opportunity after her brother mentioned to her that students at his college had no lunch options.
“I decided to try my hand at selling kotas. I made 30 kotas early in the morning which sold within minutes at the college. And the following day I made 100 and to my surprise, they were sold out in a flash.”
With each batch that she made, demand grew and she realised then that she was onto something special. Molefe’s kota outlet became a community favourite after she joined the Women in Mining Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme.
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She notes that this programme taught her the essentials of business marketing, financial management and compliance. She says these are skills she never had before.
“Through mentor and skills development workshops, I gained insights into reaching new customer bases and even establishing an online presence.
“I used to think I’d just make kotas and sell them but now I know how to identify and reach my target market. My customers come from outside my area, seeking my outlet on Google Maps and travelling for the distinct flavour that I’ve crafted through secret sauces and high-quality ingredients.”
She adds that the programme helped her formalise her finances, guiding her from using personal funds to a structured approach where she now pays herself a salary. She envisions franchising her kota outlet, taking her area staple to neighbourhoods and towns across the country.
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