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Template:Infobox music venue
Mzoli's (also known as Mzoli's Place, Mzoli's Meat, or Mzoli's Butchery) is a butchery, restaurant, and nightclub in Gugulethu, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa. Since it opened in early 2003, it has become a popular gathering spot for Cape Town residents and a tourist attraction. It is named after its founder and owner, Mzoli Ngcawuzele.
Business
Located in the township of Gugulethu, a poor black neighbourhood some 15 kilometres southeast of the centre of Cape Town, Mzoli's is a "do-it-yourself" market and eatery, selling meat to patrons who in turn hire independent entrepreneurs running braai stalls on the grounds to grill the meat and prepare meals. Mzoli's also provides live entertainment and has become noted as a venue for deep house and kwaito music.
As well as local people, Mzoli's attracts television stars, DJs such as DJ Fresh, politicians such as Tony Yengeni, businesspeople, tourists, and college students. Mzoli's is considered to be a "base camp" where "black diamonds" (a local term for an upwardly mobile class of township-based blacks who are at home in the corporate world) gather and network. In September 2006, Sasha Planting of Financial Mail called it "the destination for everyone".
Tourism
The establishment is a key part of tourism in the area. An example of a tourist-centred activity is the Mzoli's Shebeen Experience, in which tourists are brought to the township from their hotels in Cape Town. In this context, a shebeen is a local bar that sells food. As part of the tour, Mzoli speaks about township life and how Gugulethu has revived since the 1990s. The lunch provided includes local meats and food such as Karoo lamb, boerewors, potjie, umngqusho (samp and beans), mielie pap and mielies. Guests can drink beer and local Cape wine, and Cape jazz and marimba players supply entertainment.
History
The establishment opened in early 2003. Owner Mzoli Ngcawuzele obtained start-up funding from the Development Bank of South Africa, which supports black-owned businesses. In October 2006, an economic study said that Mzoli had "moved, from selling meat informally from a garage, to owning one of the most popular hangouts in Cape Town".
In November 2006, more than 30 restaurant patrons, including a group of tourists and Democratic Alliance councillor Masizole Mnqasela, were arrested in a police raid for public drinking. The restaurant did not sell liquor, but Ngcawuzele explained that he could not stop people from bringing their own alcohol. The incident generated controversy in the local press. Tour operator Ryan Hunt claimed that police swore at the patrons and threatened people for asking questions. "The police created a dangerous situation. People are always encouraged to visit township attractions, but now they are turned away with that kind of situation," he said. Mnqasela, a member of Cape Town's economic development committee, added, “Mzoli’s is internationally acclaimed and is key to township tourism. What kind of message are the police sending?" The African National Congress approved the police actions, citing a need to curtail public drunkenness.
References
- Adami, Kelly. (August 25, 2006) Financial Mail They may be Legless, but they're going places.
- ^ "Mzoli's - the ultimate user-generated restaurant". cherryflava. May 2, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
- "Where would we go if it shut down?". City Vision. November 25 2004.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Zama feni, Leila Samodien and Murray Williams (January 03 2007). "Mzoli's new cross to bear". Independent Online.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Unathi Kondile. "Mzoli's Meat". Youth Radio. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
- Nicole Alper. "Captivating Capetown, South Africa". Essence. February 2007. p. 216.
- ^ Sasha Planting. "A taste of ekasi. Mzoli's Butchery". Financial Mail. 2006-09-15. p. 20.
- Dominique Herman (September 18 2006 at 07:39AM). "Black diamonds juggle urban, township worlds". Cape Times. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - South Africa from www.baobabexpeditions.com. Includes a description of the Mzoli's Shebeen Experience. Retrieved on 2007-09-20.
- October 2003 newsletter from www.come2capetown.com. "The butchery, opened early this year..." Retrieved 2007-09-20.
- Language, Communication Networks and Economic Participation, Towards an Inclusive Economy, Ana Deumert and Nkululeko Mabandla, University of Cape Town, South Africa/Monash University, Australia, Accelerated and Shared Growth in South Africa: Determinants, Constraints and Opportunities, 18 - 20 October 2006.
- ^ Vusi Nzapheza. "Patrons harassed". Cape Times. 2006-11-21. p. 3.
- ^ Zara Nicholson and Murray Williams. "Tourists and DA councillor held in Gugs drinking raid". Cape Argus. 2006-11-20. p. 1
- Zara Nicholson. "Swearing cops ‘disgust’ arrested tour operator". Cape Argus. 2006-11-22. p.5.