What started with only R60 in 2014 has grown into a successful food business that now provides jobs and serves customers in a proper restaurant setting. Pulane Jumma began the journey shortly after losing her job as a domestic worker, determined to find a way to support her family.
Jumma said she was motivated by the responsibility of being a breadwinner with children to care for. With no stable income at the time, she knew she had to act quickly to provide food and basic needs for her family.
Starting the business was not easy. One of the biggest challenges was transport, as she had to rely on public transport, especially buses, to travel to a butcher in Vereeniging to restock supplies. Load shedding also created difficulties because the food needed to be cooked daily. During power outages, she used firewood and a gas stove to continue operating and serving customers.
“Giving up was never an option because my children depended on me,” said Jumma.
Despite the obstacles, the business continued to grow steadily over the years. What began in a small two-room shack shared with her family has now developed into a fully built kitchen and restaurant. The new setup allows customers to sit and enjoy their meals comfortably regardless of weather conditions, unlike before when rain often made outdoor seating difficult.
The growth of the business has also created employment opportunities in the community. Jumma has hired people to help keep the restaurant clean and others to assist with preparing traditional dishes such as cow trotters and mogodu.
Today, the entrepreneur says the business is making ten times more than the R60 she used to start it, proving that determination, resilience and hard work can turn small beginnings into success.
