Entrepreneur of the Week
The Phabeni Coffee Shop Patrick Vikoza
There is nothing quite like it. Dawn over the Kruger National Park with the wilderness before you and the rich aroma of Patrick Vikoza’s freshly ground coffee filtering through the crisp morning air. Vikoza is almost an institution at the Phabeni Gate, having sold coffee here for 22 years. Three months ago, he bought a new coffee machine to grind and filter locally sourced Numbela beans, and now that welcoming aroma is even richer and more inviting than before.
“The overseas visitors in the buses don’t want instant coffee from a bottle,” he said, although good instant coffees are also on offer.
Vikoza’s business, The Phabeni Coffee Shop, thrives on big busloads of tourists, which he says are starting to come back. “It’s good, because the queue to pay for entrance to the Kruger takes quite long, and so they come for coffee while they wait.
“On a good day I sell maybe 50 cups, on a bad day, just two or three. Business has picked up after the lockdown,” he said.
Regarding security and service delivery strikes at the Kruger’s gates, Vikozi said the strikes disrupt his business badly, but the community needs to be heard. He believes outside security firms should join with community leaders to work together to safeguard tourists.
“Security from the outside doesn’t help, because they’re not local. You can’t work alone. We must work together,” he said. Vikoza’s sturdy little cart was donated by “an Indian guy from Mugg & Bean” some years ago. This was the windfall he needed to support his family.
Regarding the future, Phabeni’s coffeevending veteran said, “I would like to expand my business, if the Kruger can allow me. I’d like to sell my coffee at Numbi and Paul Kruger gates. I just need two more coffee carts, and permission.” Vikoza hails from Lilydale, as did his more famous uncle, Sam Nzima, whose photograph of Hector Peterson in the 1976 Soweto Riots changed the future of South Africa.
The Phabeni Coffee Shop sells top class ground coffee as well as some popular instant brands.
• The Blue Gate hosts live music every Friday at 18:00. Enquiries: info@bluegate. co.za or 061 535 9137.
• Die Windpomp hosts live music and carvery every Sunday at 12:00. R150 per person, R100 for pensioners. Enquiries:
060 748 4633.
• November 24: Church Unlimited hosts Elvis
Blue live. Time: 18:00. Tickets: R150. Enquires: 060 706 1463 or
076 503 0886.
• 26 November: Komati Musiekfees word aangebied deur die
Impala Sportsklub, Komatipoort.
Kunstenaars sluit in
Biggi, Eloff en Neil. Hekke open om 10:00. Kaartjies: R250 vir volwassenes, R150 vir kinders onder 12. Navrae: 082 566 7048.
To include your event in the calendar, email petro@lowvelder.co.za