When most young people were trying to recover from the aftermath of Covid-19, Kabelo Majatjabothata was stepping into legacy — and rewriting it. Shortly after the pandemic, he took over his mother’s long-standing township food business, a beloved local spot known for its traditional “old school” meals. But Kabelo quickly realized that nostalgia alone wouldn’t sustain the business. Customer habits were changing, and the turnover wasn’t where it needed to be. Instead of letting the shop fade away, he reimagined it.

His innovation came in the form of kotas and slys — hearty township-style sandwiches stacked high with cold meats, fresh vegetables, generous chips, and bold flavour combinations. While locals immediately embraced the new menu, it was Instagram that truly transformed the game. Kabelo began posting photos and videos of his loaded sandwiches, and soon his page became a food lover’s magnet. Orders spiked overnight — the internet had crowned him the new king of Alex street food.

But success doesn’t come without pressure. Each kota takes time and precision to assemble, and while Kabelo prides himself on quality, some customers struggle with the wait. Balancing speed and craftsmanship remains a daily challenge. He also faces strong competition from older, well-established eateries in the area — places deeply rooted in community loyalty. On top of that, bookkeeping and infrastructure upgrades are constant sources of worry. He inherited arcade game machines — once the neighbourhood attraction — now in need of repair. He believes that once restored, they could reignite a youthful buzz and keep customers entertained while they wait.

What sets Kabelo apart is not just his creativity, but his foresight. He doesn’t want to run the operation alone forever. His vision is to build a fully staffed enterprise where trained employees handle production while he moves into strategy, administration and expansion. His journey is more than a business story — it’s proof that tradition can evolve, and that with the right twist, a family legacy can feed not only a community, but a movement.