Before retiring, he brought me here and introduced me to his customers. Among her inheritance are two little benches, an antique stove, a table, a couple of spoons, pots, plates and a dirty blue tent that shades customers from the worst of the climate. On a good day I make not less than R250 selling pap, imifino rice, chakalaka, chicken and stew. When it's not my day, I still go home with R170. In a group of more than 30 women selling similar food for R10 a plate, one has to be skilful in winning customers.
Most customers are taxi drivers, street vendors and car guards.
One office worker, Sipho Makutu, says white restaurants don't realise black people need food providing lots of energy. Look at the type of hard work they do. If they eat rice now they will be hungry in 20 minutes. The plate in front of him holds pap, chicken and chakalaka. Another customer says he eats at pavement restaurants because traditional food, prepared by older women, fills him with nostalgia for his home in Pietersburg.