‘Soleful’ Kasi Style fish and chips thanks to 19-year-old Kgabi
Kgabi Mashiane is a 19-year-old whose perfect portrait of his future doesn't include that of being an employee.
POLOKWANE – Mashiane is the owner of Kasi Style Fish and Chips which is steadily gaining traction.
Mashiane got a feel for the business world in Gr 5 while selling sweets to his peers at school. The business, as he would explain it, would have its highs and its lows as he was at that stage not too committed in sustaining it.
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After taking note of his interest in business, he dropped out of school to pursue this very dream. Although starting a business was one of the reasons, he also attributes dropping out of school to his inability of retaining information he was taught.
“I failed a lot at school until it got to the point where I decided to drop out. I have always been business minded but school channelled my mental ability into other subjects rather than what I am good at. It felt like I was delaying my own progress. I knew I could not drop out of school to sit at home and do nothing, hence I started looking for work while I was still at school so that I already had a plan when I left,” he explained.
He started working at Ayate Fish and Chips in 2016, and this was also where he gained the experience to run a business. After gaining the necessary experience, he felt confident enough to pursue his own dream of opening his own Fish and Chips.
In February, this year, he opened the doors of Kasi Style Fish and Chips and the response has since been encouraging.
Mashiane’s path to owning his own fish and chips shop was not an easy one as he needed the dedication to not only turn this into a reality, but into a success. Firstly, he did not have the funding to start the business but he made it work by putting aside R1 500, every month to save for the equipment he needed. “I had to lay-bye some of the equipment because I could not afford it at one go, but my vision was clear. I had to make this happen, no if’s or but’s because I don’t have qualifications to fall back on,” he explained.
Today Kasi Style Fish and Chips is steadily growing and gaining momentum. He currently employs two people on a temporary basis and has also renovated his business to give it a look that will attract customers. He plans to franchise his business in the next few years and to also open a Chisanyama and a laundromat. Mashiane truly lives for business and with his drive and determination, he is well on his way to becoming a formidable force within the business space.
