We contacted Bongiwe to try to set up an appointment with her regarding the interview but she was unreachable on her phone and her business premises were closed. We then consulted Nhlanhla, also a former GE Alum operating next to Bongiwe’s, but he was at a loss and unable to help.

We then worked with the group navigator, Kamogelo, to try to reach Bongiwe. Upon reaching Bongiwe, she indicated that she was not in Alexandra and had moved to the south of Johannesburg temporarily due to personal problems. She informed us that she had started experiencing these personal problems towards the end of November, shortly after the GE programme. As a result of this, she had to temporarily close down the restaurant. She plans to reopen the restaurant in a couple of months, after the winter months.