Vhembe woman’s saucy entrepreneurial journey
Prudence Maloka-Manenzhe's Rave About Sauce offers artisanal condiments, driven by her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for quality, flavour, and health.
LIMPOPO – Prudence Maloka-Manenzhe is a passionate young entrepreneur and the proud owner of Rave About Sauce.
The name ‘Rave About Sauce’ reflects her belief that once people try her products, they will enthusiastically rave about them.
Originally from Ha-Kutama Tshikwarani, near Louis Trichardt in the Vhembe district, Maloka-Manenzhe has always been passionate about entrepreneurship.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Maharishi International University, an NQF4 certificate in business processing and outsourcing, and has completed theoretical and practical training in food and beverage packaging and operations through the FoodBev Seta.
Rave About Sauce specialises in agro-processing, producing a range of food condiments including chilli sauces, jams, dips, and pastes in a variety of flavours.
Maloka-Manenzhe initially registered her business as an events company called Rave About Us Events, focusing on catering, decor, and entrepreneurship events.
However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the events industry was severely impacted, she shifted to agro-processing, which is now the primary focus of Rave About Sauce.
She explains, “I wanted to create a product that gives people an experience. Our chilli products offer flavours and heat that transport you, allowing you to travel without leaving your seat.”
While the journey hasn’t been without its challenges, Maloka-Manenzhe is determined to grow her business. “There have been challenges, but also opportunities,” she says.
Rave About Sauce is more than just condiments – it’s an experience, she tells CV.
“Our products are packed with flavour and heat. My goal is to empower young people with entrepreneurial skills, teaching them to create something valuable and sell it for a profit. Moving from my home kitchen to a production facility has been a significant milestone, allowing us to increase production and enhance our compliance standards.”
Her mission is to ensure total customer satisfaction through high-quality food condiments.
“We aim to delight and excite our customers’ taste buds with our exceptional range of handcrafted chili sauces, pastes, dips, and jams. I want Rave About Sauce to become the premier supplier of food condiments.”
In addition to flavour, Maloka-Manenzhe said her products offer health benefits too. She has received Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) training from the Limpopo Agro-food and Technology Station at the University of Limpopo.
Reflecting on her journey, Maloka-Manenzhe acknowledges that being a young black woman in business comes with challenges.
“You have to work twice as hard to prove yourself. But with the support of my family and stakeholders, I’ve been able to push forward. In 2020, I was nominated to represent South Africa in the SADC Region at the Miss Career Africa competition. Travelling to Rwanda for the finals was a big step, but my family encouraged me to spread my wings and fly,” she concluded.
