Mzoli's

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Mzoli's
Some tourists outside Mzoli's in April 2006
Some tourists outside Mzoli's in April 2006
Location(s) Gugulethu township, Cape Town, South Africa
Coordinates 33°58′35″S 18°34′11″E / -33.97639, 18.56972Coordinates: 33°58′35″S 18°34′11″E / -33.97639, 18.56972
Type Butcher shop
Restaurant
Nightclub
Years active 2003 - present
Genre(s) Deep house
Kwaito
Cape jazz
Marimba
Capacity several hundred
Owner Mzoli Ngcawuzele

Mzoli's (also known as Mzoli's Place, Mzoli's Meat, or Mzoli's Butchery) is a butchery, restaurant, and nightclub in Gugulethu, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa.[1] Since Mzoli's opened in early 2003, the restaurant has become a popular gathering spot for Cape Town residents and a tourist attraction.[2] Mzoli's is named after the founder and owner, Mzoli Ngcawuzele.[3][4]

Contents

[edit] History

The establishment opened in early 2003.[5] Owner Mzoli Ngcawuzele obtained start-up funding from the Development Bank of South Africa, which supports black-owned businesses.[6] In October 2006, an economic study said that Mzoli had "moved, from selling meat informally from a garage, to owning one of the most popular hangouts in Cape Town".[7]

In November 2006, more than 30 restaurant patrons, including a group of tourists and Democratic Alliance councillor Masizole Mnqasela, were arrested in a police raid for public drinking. The restaurant did not sell liquor, but Ngcawuzele explained that he could not stop people from bringing their own alcohol.[8][9] The incident generated controversy in the local press. Tour operator Ryan Hunt claimed that police swore at the patrons and threatened people for asking questions. "The police created a dangerous situation. People are always encouraged to visit township attractions, but now they are turned away with that kind of situation," he said.[10] Mnqasela, a member of Cape Town's economic development committee, added, "Mzoli's is internationally acclaimed and is key to township tourism. What kind of message are the police sending?"[8] The African National Congress approved the police actions, citing a need to curtail public drunkenness.[9]

[edit] Business

Located in the township of Gugulethu, a poor black neighbourhood some 15 kilometres southeast of the centre of Cape Town, Mzoli's is a "do-it-yourself" market and eatery, selling meat to patrons who in turn hire independent entrepreneurs running braai stalls on the grounds to grill the meat and prepare meals.[2] Mzoli's also provides live entertainment and has become noted as a venue for deep house and kwaito music.[6][11]

As well as local people, Mzoli's attracts television stars, DJs such as DJ Fresh, politicians such as Tony Yengeni, businesspeople, tourists, and college students.[12][6] Mzoli's is considered to be a "base camp" where "black diamonds" (a local term for an upwardly mobile class of township-based blacks who are at home in the corporate world) gather and network.[6][13] In September 2006, Sasha Planting of Financial Mail called it "the destination for everyone".[12]

[edit] Tourism

Mzoli's is a key part of tourism in the area. An example of a tourist-centred activity is the Mzoli's Shebeen Experience, in which tourists are brought to the township from their hotels in Cape Town. In this context, a shebeen is a local bar that sells food. As part of the tour, Mzoli speaks about township life and how Gugulethu has revived since the 1990s. The lunch provided includes local meats and food such as Karoo lamb, boerewors, potjie, umngqusho (samp and beans), mielie pap and mielies. Guests can drink beer and local Cape wine, and Cape jazz and marimba players supply entertainment.[14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Adami, Kelly (2005-08-25). They may be Legless, but they're going places.. Financial Mail. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
  2. ^ a b Mzoli's - the ultimate user-generated restaurant. cherryflava (2007-05-02). Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
  3. ^ "Where would we go if it shut down?", City Vision, 2004-11-25. Retrieved on 2007-09-17. 
  4. ^ Zama feni, Leila Samodien and Murray Williams. "Mzoli's new cross to bear", Independent Online, 2007-01-03. Retrieved on 2007-09-17. 
  5. ^ Mtyala, Quinton. Some first sunset sundowner places in Cape Town. come2capetown.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  6. ^ a b c d Unathi Kondile. Mzoli’s Meat. Youth Radio. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
  7. ^ Ana Deumert and Nkululeko Mabandla (18 to 20 October 2006). Language, Communication Networks and Economic Participation, Towards an Inclusive Economy (PDF). University of Cape Town. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  8. ^ a b Vusi Nzapheza. "Patrons harassed". Cape Times. 2006-11-21. p. 3.
  9. ^ a b Zara Nicholson and Murray Williams. "Tourists and DA councillor held in Gugs drinking raid". Cape Argus. 2006-11-20. p. 1
  10. ^ Zara Nicholson. "Swearing cops 'disgust' arrested tour operator". Cape Argus. 2006-11-22. p.5.
  11. ^ Nicole Alper. "Captivating Capetown, South Africa". Essence. February 2007. p. 216.
  12. ^ a b Sasha Planting. "A taste of ekasi. Mzoli's Butchery". Financial Mail. 2006-09-15. p. 20.
  13. ^ Dominique Herman. "Black diamonds juggle urban, township worlds", Cape Times, 2006-09-18. Retrieved on 2007-09-17. 
  14. ^ South Africa. Baobab Expeditions. Retrieved on 2008-01-22. “Guests are picked up from the hotel in ‘zimbi-zimbi’ as the locals call it, more commonly known as minibus taxis.
    They are then transferred into the townships for the day that they will never forget.”

[edit] External links

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