Katlego Sekhu
Pimville-born entrepreneur Neo Moleko-Siphayi, co-founder of Manaka Coffee, recently joined My Top 10 at 10 with Tbose to share the story behind SA’s leading black-owned roastery.
Neo, together with his friends Bradley and Phumlani, managed to create something truly special.
Sharing how Manaka Coffe came about, Neo notes that Bradley spent some time in Korea and was inspired to start a coffee business. “When he came back on his break, he told me that he had tasted coffee like no other in the world,” said Neo.
After a few hiccups in the beginning, the trio joined forces to launch Manaka Coffee.
“We know what the country needs, and we have an example of how to do something if both parties are willing. It is possible. Willpower has led us to where we are today.”
The inspiration behind the name
“Manaka was easy to find along all racial lines in the country,” said Neo. “Our vision is to have spaces in which we can work well in our townships.”
He adds that the name is symbolic and historic. “When a word and image speak to you and it just makes sense, you see it in the responses we get. And that’s something you sometimes can’t communicate at the beginning.
“Manaka was very easy to say, simple in design, and it’s got a lot of symbolism across cultures, which was important to us because this is where we are now,” he said.
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