RUSTIC RELAXATION AT RAMA’S
After a big shopping spree, it’s important to eat. Mercifully, the service delivery at Rama’s, unlike that of government, is quick
Sometimes you work so hard and so long you forget what it’s like to relax. It’s like South Africans: we have been so obsessed and aggrieved by “President” Jacob Zuma and the thieving cronies around him that we’ve forgotten that we are a beautiful, caring, generous, forgiving people.
The other day my phone rang and it was my homeboy, Doc “Tilala” Mogashoa, from Hammanskraal. He buys high fashion in Joburg and sells it in the townships around Tshwane. We arranged to meet, and my friend Donny Mothoa and agreed to go shopping with him.
So last Friday we met at Park Station in the city centre. Doc led the way. We strolled down Rissik Street. “It’s looking grubby,” said Doc, shaking his head. “Is this what you guys came to Joburg for?”
We turned down De Villiers Street towards the taxi rank, and hit the sweet spot just after the KFC. And what a sweet spot it was. I
Here is the thing I love about Joburg: while the politicians are going on and on and doing nothing about Anoj Singh at Eskom, ordinary people are being entrepreneurial and making a living.
De Villiers Street on a Friday morning is an incredible sight. Hundreds of entrepreneurs go out on Thursday and buy bales of second-hand clothing imported from various countries. A bale can cost anything from R1,500 to R2,000. They then arrive on De Villiers at dawn to set up shop. Three blocks are taken up by bales of shirts, jeans, coats, underwear — it’s like a massive department store.
Good-quality shirts go for R40 a pop, but you can get some for R7. Panties were going for R3 apiece, whether Victoria’s Secret or no-name brand.
In another universe Doc would be a fashion buyer for some major brand.
The man can see a wrinkled jacket from 100 m and tell you what it would look like with some tailoring and a bit of dry-cleaning.
By 9 am the market is packed. There is no bargaining here. You choose your apparel and pay.
After a big shop one must always have a bite to eat. Doc pointed us towards a row of rustic restaurants on the pedestrian strip out of Park Station towards Eloff Street. It’s basically a bunch of cooks who have touts on the street outside pushing trade inside. I wasn’t keen on this — this was the week when the city centre had no electricity and no water in some parts.
“Moenie worry nie,” said Doc. “Mense maak ’n plan.” (Don’t worry, people make a plan.)
These entrepreneurs run on gas and generators and bring their own water. We settled at Rama’s Place and he told us: “If you wait for government, you will wait forever.”
Rama’s pulling point is that he makes food that the Limpopo and Tshwane palates like, apparently.
And the juice is free.
We ordered braaied meat and chicken, plus a tomato-based sauce and chakalaka. The chicken, grilled on coals, was crisp and delicious. I passed on the meat. The pap was dense, the way they make it in Limpopo. The chakalaka was excellent.
Turnaround time at Rama’s is quick. People are always coming in and out, and they are in a hurry, so Rama cannot afford to slack off.
When I asked if he gets a chance to rest during the day, he looked at me out of one eye: “This is Joburg! You can’t rest!”
I love
Here is the thing I love about Joburg: while the politicians are going on and doing nothing, ordinary people are making a living
it.
Rama’s Place ★★★
Off De Villiers Street, Park Station, Johannesburg Tel: 072-638-1006
★★★★★ Makhosi Khoza ★★★★ Excellent ★★★ Good ★★ Poor ★ Jacob Zuma