Good Clean Fun — K-la-K Car Wash

WHEN KEKE SUPI was growing up in Botswana, he was inspired by his father, who cooked for his family and for a living. But like other boys around the globe, Supi was fascinated with cars of every description. Washing them not only gave him a chance to make a little extra money, but also to get a closer look at their construction and aesthetics.

As an adult Supi adopted Botschabela, Manguang ( just outside Bloemfontein) as his hometown. With apartheid two decades in the past, he was moved to do his part to make it a better place, as the residents of Soweto and other black townships had done. After travelling the world and observing community-based businesses, he opened K-la-K Carwash in 2011, blending his various passions together while providing jobs for the community. Alongside the car wash, a cafeteria restaurant offers homespun stews, salads, and other dishes crafted from Supi's father's recipes. During the week, the show that goes with the dinner are the washes in progress, done by young men and women who love cars as much as Supi does. Come on the weekend, the suds provide the opening act for local musicians and DJs.

In the future, Supi hopes to add a hair salon and other necessary services to make K-la-K a one-stop shop for the community, a place to have a good time and a lesson in creative business models for anybody visiting.

K-la-K K Car Wash

28534 Romansleigh Road, Bloemfontein, Free State 9323