Mpophomeni resident Lihle Mavuso shares her food story.
Lihle is a participant The Sustainable Nutrition for Climate Action Research Project, facilitated by One Planet SA in collaboration with the University of Bristol and the TESF network, that aims to investigate what helps people make more sustainable food choices – and what prevents them from changing. Celebrating food memories and sharing heritage knowledge is an important part of the process.
Meet the plant-based Queen of the Township.
Khayelihle Mavuso, affectionately known as Lihle, explains “say it as if you were smiling”.
Recently, Lihle launched the plant-based food takeaway business Khayelihle Food Bowl. Late last year she began a weekly mission to prepare healthy, plant-based food to sell at the market every Friday at Lamont Shisa nyama. Her inspiration comes from the lack of variety in the fast-food industry within the township. Vendors bombard hungry people with the same deep-fried, unhealthy food, leading them to consume junk that is not good for their health.
Lihle was born in Newcastle but has moved about according to her husband’s deployment (he is an employee of the South African Police Service). Years ago, she and her family found themselves in Bethlehem, a town in the Free State. She was unemployed but with an interest and love for baking, so she asked a friend for recipes for scones and queen cakes. She made a successful living by selling these treats to the teachers in the local schools.
In 2006, the family relocated to Mpophomeni where she extended her entrepreneurial skills by selling toilet rolls which were supplied by a factory in Merrivale. “I had to find something to make money” she says.
In 2010 she was recruited to work for eThembeni Ministry as a coordinator and the cook in charge of the kitchen where she learned many skills. For many years she baked and cooked for the orphans that eThembeni Ministry supported.
When her contract with eThembeni ended, she volunteered for Mpophomeni farmer Nhlakanipho Nzimande’s intern programme in Agriculture. For six months, she learned about both organic and industrial farming practices. “The first crop I grew was garlic in sacks” she recalls. “I learnt so much during the internship and afterwards collaborated with Lindiwe Phikwane to create a productive garden at Mpophomeni High School. We met with many challenges at the school garden – seedlings dug out, fenceposts stolen, goats eating everything and people harvesting freely without asking.”She and Lindiwe gave up.
Nowadays, Lihle has a small garden at her home which is well looked after and includes an assortment of lima beans, sweet potatoes, African horned cucumbers, a range of peppers, spring onions, garlic and even two young avocado trees. She is lucky that her mealies have not been eaten by the rats which are problematic in the area. Lihle is a wifi-preneur – one of the 21 Wi-Fi hotspots around Mpophomeni where neighbours and scholars can do assignments, apply for jobs, and connect with friends on Facebook.
Her family loves her cooking and is always keen to try the healthier options she prepares. “Vegetables have made a major difference in my life,” she says, “for a long time I was ill and the medical professionals could not find out what was wrong with me. I used to indulge in sodas, sweet and savoury pastries until someone suggested that I consider a change of diet and eat more vegetables”. Since Lihle found out that she was gluten intolerant three years ago, she has not been to the doctor. “Vegetables are affordable compared to meat products, and I have personally seen the results of eating plant-based – I have a healthy body and healthy mind” she states.
Recently, Lihle went hiking in the Drakensberg for the first time – an experience sponsored by sales of Mnandi a Taste of Mpophomeni, a cookbook that celebrates the cooks and gardeners of the township. “I see Nature differently now. I don’t like to spend too much time in doors. I learned to appreciate the little things, to pause and reflect on the usefulness of aspects that are sometimes neglected. I enjoyed time alone, to sit in silence, listening to the wilderness and drinking the pristine river water. I have found new courage to walk and instead of Nature being my enemy, Nature is now my friend” she stated.
With a deep commitment to the health of her community and the health of the planet, there is no doubt that for Khayelihle Food Bowl healing is in the pot. All her customers are smiling.
Contact Lihle to order delicious plant-based meals on 072 751 2291 find her on Facebook.
For more information about the Sustainable Nutrition for Climate Action Research Project, follow One Planet SA
Mpophomeni Conservation Group 