Die Instap Kafee in Verwoerdpark sorg weekliks vir die gemeenskap van Alberton met smaaklike tuigemaakte pannekoeke, jaffles en biltong. Die pannekoeke en jaffles word vars gebak en met baie liefde gemaak. Die biltong word deur Louis Fourie, inwoner van Florentia, voorsien. Die onstaan van die Instap Kafee Elina Visagie het voorheen eers pannekoek vanaf haar sypaadjie verkoop, maar dit het in ’n besigheid verander toe sy ’n ou vriend van haar, Antoon Jonker, in die dorp raakgeloop het. Antoon het toe net gehoor dat hy by sy werk afgelê is. “Ek het Antoon en sy vrou, Elmarie, gegroet en na ek sy nuus gehoor het, het ek vir hom gevra of ons gaan pannekoek bak. “Sonder huiwer het hy vir my ja gesê,” het Elina vertel. Op 7 Januarie in 2016 het Elina en haar man Christo en Antoon die besigheid na haar huis geskuif en in Mei maand kon hulle oopmaak vir die publiek. Uit die inkomste wat hulle maak gaan daar ‘n maandelikse skenking aan Paws in Motion se fonds vir hawelose diere wat versorging en mediese aandag nodig het. Terwyl Elina pannekoek bak en Christo jaffles maak hanteer Antoon al die kliënte en Hier is Christo en Elina Visagie saam met Antoon Jonker. bestellings. “Op die ou einde van die dag gaan dit oor werkskepping en oorlewing. Dit is lekker om die gemeenskap te bederf met ’n familieresep vir pannekoek en smaaklike jaffles.” Kyk uit vir hulle Antoon, Elina en Christo verkoop elke Saterdag pannekoek, jaffles en biltong vanuit die Visagie’s se motorhuis in 169 Tweedelaan in Florentia. Hulle is oop van 9vm tot 1nm en hulle werk ook op bestelling indien mense al deur die loop van die week bestellings wil plaas. Vir bestellings, skakel Antoon by 084 701 0573.

Humphrey Mpakula and Charles Phanga sell handmade chests of drawers, bean bags, steel décor and dog bowls. This is their only income and their way of making a living. Some locals may know them as they are always at the Rainbow Nursery on Second Avenue. Making of the goods. These two were both retrenched and decided it was time to do something and to be their own bosses. “You just carry on, and it is important to stay focused,” said Charles. So they decided to make a living by selling these goods. “These are things we know, we know how to make them and we are good at it,” they said. Normally, it takes them two hours to make a chest of drawers, 30 minutes to make a bean bag and two hours or more to make the steel décor and dog bowls. Why supporting local is important “By supporting us you are supporting our families. By supporting us we can go and support local suppliers of our materials and tools,” said Humphrey and Charles. They also said the prices of some of the other bigger stores or franchises are fixed. “We can still negotiate. It is important for us not to rip people off and to offer them a price which suites their price range. “We need to support each other, even if it is by a like or a share of a local business’ social media post. We need to be there for each other, especially in these difficult and uncertain times,” they concluded.

Jaco Kriel: “Alberton is a community. We support our local businesses and in return they support us. It’s not something we have to think about, it just comes naturally.”

Matthew Lanes: “We have very loyal customers. You are the reason we are here. Supporting locally helps everyone get through the tough times we are in.”

Frans Burger: “If the community can’t look after each other, how will you be able to look after yourself?”

Savannah Foster-Sutherland: “We have had the same staff for over 30 years. Supporting a business such as us is not only supporting the business itself, but the families of staff who are part of the community.”

Blayne Shelley: “It is all about the community. It is important to have a large footprint in the community and provide a service people can trust.”