Come join us at Startup Grind Tembisa as we unfold the legendary success story of a black African woman who started from nothing and a nobody to a successfully recognised businesswoman in the African continent.

Born a serial entrepreneur driven to succeed.

Rita Zwane, founder of Imbizo Shisanyama, believes that the road to economic freedom for the majority of South Africans is as hard as the road to political freedom was. And she should know. In 1997, after many failed attempts at starting her own business, Zwane found herself walking the streets of Tembisa looking for yet another new business opportunity.

A few weeks later, armed only with the right attitude and support from her family and community, she set up a small shisinyama on a street corner in Ivory Park. With only a single pot, gas griller, display fridge, gas paraffin stove and two employees, the concept of Imbizo Shisinyama was firmly established.

Her secret to success was the commercialisation of the traditional South African braai – something that is an ingrained part of all South Africans’ heritage and culture. Today, shisinyama has become one of the biggest growth areas in the food, beverage and hospitality industry in South Africa.