Kwamashu's Township Coffee Shop

Businessman Nhlakanipho Mkhize opens a coffee shop in KwaMashu. 

By: Bandiswa Mngomezulu 

         Picture: Nhlakanipho Mkhize co-owner of Mkhize Coffee Shop and Print in KwaMashu. 

Coffee shops are rare to find in townships, they are usually located in office areas or subtle places . However, Nhlakanipho’s passion for coffee has bought novelty in the streets of KwaMashu when he opened Mkhize's Coffee Shop and Print. 

The 35 year old businessman born in Umlazi South of Durban started showing talents for entrepreneurship at an early stage of his life by selling fudge in grade 7 and when he went to tertiary level he worked as a waiter for numerous restaurants where he saved most of his salary with a hope to open a business one day. 

The turning point in Nhlakanipho’s life was when his parents got divorced, he had to move KwaMashu to live with his granny where his business aspirations took off. Nhlakanipho delineated that “its extension of love for coffee and the desire to bring quality products to KwaMashu’’ that led him to open a coffee shop.


Picture: Cup of coffee served at Mkhize Coffee Shop and Print. 

Nhlakanipho also lamented that there is a lack of coffee culture in KwaMashu but he is determined to create one with his new coffee shop. 

‘’ There isn’t a coffee culture in KwaMashu but we are in a virtue of building one because what I have noticed is that every time I went for coffee there was someone I knew from my community in other coffee shops so then I told myself every day we drink coffee why don’t we put it in our own backyard’’. 

The ingredients used to produce coffee at Mkhize's Coffee Shop and Print are sourced from Africa’s coffee powerhouse Ethiopia and Nhlakanipho alluded to the fact that they are still offering ‘medium type of coffee’ to their customers.

Businesses often have target markets and in the fraternity of coffee shops their target market are people who want ‘serenity and to just enjoy good coffee ‘whilst doing their work or just need a breath of fresh air which is exactly what Mkhize's Coffee Shop and Print also offers to its target market. In addition, they have incorporated a new service where people can now print their paperwork while at the store having coffee with pastries and internet at their disposal. 

‘’ I have always been involved in food, beverages and entertainment. We wanted to do something for the "non-alcoholic" community, people who are trying to be productive, that want to read a book , close to home and get some serenity in a somewhat dangerous noisy place’’ he said. 


Picture :Holinhlanhla Msomi a customer at Mkhize Coffee Shop and Print. 

Holinhlanhla Msomi customer at Mkhize Coffee Shop and Print. 

Holinhlanhla Msomi from KwaMashu who went to get himself a cup of coffee at Mkhize's Coffee Shop and Print shared that he was amazed by the service he received. 

‘’ The coffee at Mkhize's Coffee Shop and Print is of good quality, when one is drinking it they envisage themselves in the suburbs and the service by the staff is simply amazing "he added. 


    Picture: Buhle Mthembu who works as a barista at Mkhize Coffee Shop and Print. 

Buhle, a barista at Mkhize's Coffee Shop and Print also expressed that in as much as people of KwaMashu are not ‘accustomed’ to having a coffee shop in the location, but there is gradual ‘inclination’ by the people about coffee and this pushes them to keep producing good quality coffee to the communityof KwaMashu and surroundings she said. 

KwaMashu is a known as a bustling, deafening and precarious place and Nhlakanipho’s aim is to alter that stereotype that is affiliated with the area. His wide range of businesses in KwaMashu has generated 70 jobs and his mission of "rebranding" KwaMashu is just getting started.









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