What started out in 2011 as a small business selling only chips and pap and meat from a tent at the local market, has grown into a very successful business enterprise, called Monate Chicken N Steak.
The managing director of Monate Chicken N Steak, Lufuno Makhale, remembers when she and her husband, Rendani, started Monate Chicken N Steak in December 2016 with only two tables in the tiny kitchen of a small shack in Lufule II alongside the Punda Maria Road outside Thohoyandou. With only two workers to help them with their business, they had to work very hard.
All the sweat and tears eventually paid off, however, as hard work always does. The business kept growing and growing, with branches opening in Lufule II, Malamulele and Mukula, and on Friday, 30 July, the proud couple celebrated the grand opening of their fourth Chicken N Steak branch at the former VDC building, situated in the Thohoyandou Central Business District. Judging from the queueing customers and guests who showed up for the occasion, and the way their chicken sold like hot cakes, this branch is sure to be just as successful as the others.
"We wanted to expand our business with the opening of the Thohoyandou branch to meet the needs of our customers who are not able to reach our other three branches," said Makhale.
Hundreds of customers visiting or shopping in Thohoyandou town will now be able to order from them. "We have created jobs for more than 60 previously unemployed people who will now be able to put food on the table for their families. Local small-scale farmers around Thohoyandou and Malamulele are benefitting from our branches, as we regularly buy fresh vegetables from them for our Monate Chicken N Steak eateries," Makhale added.
Acting Thulamela Mayor Fhulufhelo Mutheiwana, who officially conducted the Monate Chicken N Steak grand opening, said the Thulamela Municipality valued the role that small businesses played in creating jobs and fighting poverty and unemployment, and boosting the local economy.
"We look forward to seeing Monate Chicken N Steak grow to be like KFC, Nando's, Chicken Licken and other big names. The local municipality is here today to pledge its support to local small businesses like Monate, which means mudifho in Tshivenda. Zwine zwa amba uri zwiliwa zwa fhano zwia difha (the food cooked here is nice)," said Mutheiwana.
One of the jubilant newly recruited workers at the Thohoyandou branch, Konanani Nengwekhulu (26), was over the moon about her new job after struggling for many years. She previously worked as a toilet attendant, not far from where the new Monate Chicken N Steak eatery is situated.
Call them at the Thohoyandou branch on 063 378 4584, Malamulele branch on 061 549 9424, Mukula branch on 067 515 8958 or Lufule II branch on 072 418 8920 / 073 245 3284 / 066 184 4870.