Mzoli's

Mzoli's (also known as Mzoli's Place, Mzoli's Meat, or Mzoli's Butchery) is a butchery 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] Amongst Gugulethu's residents, Mzoli's Place has a reputation for public drunkenness and disrespect for the local community.[3][4] Mzoli's is named after the founder and owner, Mzoli Ngcawuzele.[5][6]

Mzoli's
Tourists outside Mzoli's in April 2006
LocationGugulethu township, Cape Town, South Africa
Coordinates33°58′35″S 18°34′11″E
OwnerMzoli Ngcawuzele
TypeButcher shop
Restaurant
Nightclub
Genre(s)Deep house
Kwaito
Cape jazz
Marimba
CapacitySeveral hundred
Opened2003

History

The establishment opened in early 2003.[7] Owner Mzoli Ngcawuzele obtained start-up funding from the Development Bank of South Africa, which supports black-owned businesses.[8] 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".[9]

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 drinking in public. The restaurant did not sell alcohol, but Ngcawuzele explained that he could not stop people from bringing their own.[3][10] 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.[11] 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 is the police sending?"[10] The African National Congress approved the police actions, citing a need to curtail public drunkenness.[3]

Business

Located in the township of Gugulethu, a black neighbourhood 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) 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.[8][12]

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.[8][13] Mzoli's is considered to be a "base camp" where "black diamonds" gather and network.[8][14] In September 2006, Sasha Planting of Financial Mail called it "the destination for everyone".[13]

In 2016, the Travel Channel show Secret Eats with Adam Richman featured a segment at Mzoli's during an episode filmed in Cape Town.

Reception by locals

Some local residents near a long-planned shopping mall that is being built by a business partly owned by Mzoli's owner criticized his plans in 2008. Some businesses were legally evicted or threatened with eviction from older buildings owned by Mzoli, which were then knocked down to make room for the new property development.[15] Other nearby residents have complained that the property developer has not hired enough local residents.[16] Critics threatened to vandalize or burn both Mzoli's Place and Ngcawuzele's home if he did not meet their demands for jobs and permanent, guaranteed space for informal traders at the new shopping mall.[17]

See also

References
  1. Adami, Kelly (25 August 2005). "They may be Legless, but they're going places". Financial Mail. Archived from the original on 26 September 2006. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
  2. "Mzoli's - the ultimate user-generated restaurant". cherryflava. 2 May 2007. Archived from the original on 5 July 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
  3. Zara Nicholson and Murray Williams (20 November 2006). "Tourists and DA councillor held in Gugs drinking raid". Cape Argus.
  4. "Gugulethu residents to protest against new Mall backed the famous Mzoli and Old Mutual". Anti-Eviction Campaign. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  5. "Where would we go if it shut down?". City Vision. 25 November 2004. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
  6. Zama feni, Leila Samodien and Murray Williams (3 January 2007). "Mzoli's new cross to bear". Independent Online. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
  7. Mtyala, Quinton. "Some first sunset sundowner places in Cape Town". come2capetown.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
  8. Unathi Kondile. "Mzoli's Meat". Youth Radio. Archived from the original on 6 August 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
  9. Ana Deumert and Nkululeko Mabandla (18–20 October 2006). "Language, Communication Networks and Economic Participation, Towards an Inclusive Economy" (PDF). University of Cape Town. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
  10. Vusi Nzapheza (21 November 2006). "Patrons harassed". Cape Times.
  11. Zara Nicholson. "Swearing cops 'disgust' arrested tour operator". Cape Argus. 2006-11-22. p.5.
  12. Nicole Alper. "Captivating Cape Town, South Africa". Essence. February 2007. p. 216.
  13. Sasha Planting. "A taste of ekasi. Mzoli's Butchery". Financial Mail. 2006-09-15. p. 20.
  14. Dominique Herman (18 September 2006). "Black diamonds juggle urban, township worlds". Cape Times. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
  15. "David vs Goliath in Gugulethu". Mail&Guardian. 20 November 2008.
  16. "Mzoli promises protesters jobs". Cape Argus. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
  17. "Vandalism threatens new Gugs mall". Cape Argus. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2008.

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