By Montsho Matlala
Dressed in the same get-up as her 24 workers with nothing to distinguish her as the boss, former Limpopo government employee Mohanyaki Chokoe-Olayemi blends in easily. She spends her days cooking African dishes and baking goodies at her Ghetto 9nine Kasi Flavour restaurant at Ivy Park Centre in Polokwane.
Chokoe-Olayemi, 41, who is affectionately referred to as “Hanyi” by her staff, cooks up unique and tasty African cuisine, including bread and cakes. “Our menus will give your taste buds kasi flavours like kota made with crispy chips and in-house bread from Ghetto 9nine Lepaka La Kasi Bakery. Then we have flame grilled steak, chicken and wors, pap and samp, and a variety of dishes with an African touch,” she told Vutivi News.
She and her dedicated staff also value customer service and are renowned for fast and efficient turnaround times. “For our takeaways and sit-in customers, we ensure they get their food in 10 to 15 minutes after placing orders. “We also have coffee at reasonable prices for those who enjoy this wonderful drink. We respect and value all our customers,” she beams.
In addition to the popular kasi menu that drives up sales with South Africans eager for a taste of the familiar, the business offers Zimbabwean, Nigerian and other African dishes. “At Ghetto 9nine we value all African nations that are united and caring for one another by sharing traditional home-style cooked food.“We are all passionate here. Every male worker here is called ‘malome’ and every female including myself is ‘mmane,” she tells Vutivi News, emphasising the family- and community-based nature of the business.
Chakoe-Olayemi is not afraid to take risks and pursue her dreams. This now full-time food entrepreneur with an Honours degree in health and social sciences from Unisa and a national diploma in Human Resource Management from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has been working for the Limpopo Social Development Department since 2011. She resigned in December 2023 to concentrate her energies on her passion.
Chakoe-Olayemi says her attraction to cooking and serving customers came while studying at TUT in Pretoria in 2002. She believes everyone must keep learning new skills because the world is ever-changing. “Coming from a poor background, I had to work part-time to make ends meet. I found work at a popular brand food outlet in Menlyn. That is where my love for cooking and customer care was ignited,” she recalls.
Chakoe-Olayemi says her decision to quit her secure job in government to turn her side hustle into a full-time job was driven not only by passion but also by wanting to create jobs. However, she cautions: “Running a business may not be as delicious and tasty as the food we make. It is hard work, waking up early and sleeping late. “Passion and good preparation are needed before everything. Be it food or entrepreneurship. You first chew before you swallow,” she adds. Looking at her own journey, it rings true.
