Thabisho Sechogela is one of many businessowners who have not received Covid-19 relief funds.
However, now Kasi Cuisine, in the heart of Goodwood in Cape Town, faces closure because besides not getting any state assistance, the lockdown restrictions have hit his business hard.
Sechogela’s aim was to give visitors the ultimate experience in local cuisine.
He started working as a qualified chef when he started his Facebook page “Thabisho the Private Chef” in 2016.
“I used to go to people’s houses and cook for them. After making a significant amount of money, I decided that I have enough money saved to open my restaurant,” he said.
The National Youth Development Agency assisted him with a business plan and some equipment.
“We opened the restaurant after the country was placed under alert level two of the lockdown last year,” Sechogela said.
“This was because I could not pay for bigger storage facilities in which I could store my equipment, so I decided to open the restaurant.”
When the business opened, it was a little quiet, but there was a steady stream of customers.
“More and more people started coming because the restaurant was becoming more popular and business was great,” he said.
He was finally living his dream of serving top quality traditional food, but when the country was placed under lockdown level three again, it started going downhill.
“People stopped coming because they were afraid of spending more money than they had buying takeaways,” he told Vutivi News.
“Business slowed down tremendously… Even though we still get customers, it is not enough to keep the business afloat.”
He said if did not find an investor over the next months, his shop doors would close for good.
“Because I could no longer afford rent where I was renting, I was forced to relocate to a new, cheaper area where I can at least afford rent for the time being,” he said.
“It’s difficult for me to survive, but as a restaurateur I take each day as it comes, hoping that one day is better than the previous day.”
Sechogela has approached various government institutions for relief funding, but he is one of thousands who have not received a cent.
“My business won’t last another six months, as I need money to buy better equipment and to improve my restaurant’s image so that it can attract more customers.”
He needs at least R20,000 to ensure his doors remain open.
“Serving tourists and locals my brand of local dishes has been a great dream of mine… I just hope that my business will be able to make it to next year,” he said.
