In a world where youth unemployment continues to challenge South African communities, two young entrepreneurs from Zwelihle are proving that determination, skill, and vision can create opportunities where others see obstacles. Luvo Payi and Mqwalaseli Msebe have established the township’s first pizza joint.
Payi’s story begins in Khayelitsha, where he spent his childhood before relocating to Zwelihle in 2017 as a 17-year-old Grade 11 student. After completing his matric at Qhayiya High School, he pursued travel and tourism studies at the College of Cape Town, while his partner – a Lukhanyo Primary and Qhayiya High alumnus – honed his culinary skills through hospitality training in the Eastern Cape.
Their paths converged in the hospitality industry, where both gained invaluable experience working in restaurants and hotels. It was the partner’s role as a pizza chef at Hermanus Golf Club that sparked the entrepreneurial flame. “He told me he can make 15 pizza flavors,” Payi said.
The duo’s business acumen led them to a crucial discovery: Zwelihle had no pizza establishment, creating a unique opportunity to become the area’s pioneering pizza entrepreneurs. Their competitive edge lies in offering authentic wood-fired pizzas at affordable prices, setting them apart from the competition in surrounding areas.
What began as an outdoor operation during December’s summer season – complete with challenges from wind and basic equipment – has evolved into an establishment with a residential lease agreement. The entrepreneurs funded their venture through personal savings from their hospitality work, demonstrating the power of financial discipline and strategic planning.
Customer demand drove their innovative delivery service, leading to bicycle deliveries throughout Zwelihle and Mount Pleasant for just R10. This affordable delivery option has become their business backbone, with most orders now coming through their delivery service. “We included delivery because people kept requesting it through our website,” Payi explains. The bicycle delivery model, while effective, represents one of their current challenges – the need for modern bicycles to enhance efficiency.
Their wish list includes an industrial oven, beach benches, and eventually a motorbike to expand their delivery capabilities.
