IT WAS the death of her husband that led her to the humble vetkoek as a means to survival.
Khayelitsha's Khanyisa Gamadana, known to many as Mamtshawe, her clan name, is a respected entrepreneur who earns a living by frying vetkoek.
Just a few years ago things were not so rosy for her. Two weeks after Mamtshawe, her husband and two children moved into a new house they had waited for a long time, her husband suddenly died.
The unemployed Mamtshawe was left with two children to support. Out of desperation she started making vetkoek and selling them from her home.
"I was desperate for comfort," she recalls.
"I wore black, could not go anywhere and that was driving me crazy. I just wanted to hear people speaking or to see people."
At first schoolchildren bought the vetkoek. Then more people started coming in. The demand for her vetkoek grew and people urged her to make more. She now works her way through about 20kg of flour a day.
She and her neighbour, Nosisa Konifi, who runs the Linawo Children's Home, now cook for tourists visiting Khayelitsha.
The tourists love the vetkoek so she designed a menu to go with them.
She serves burgers, Russians, French polony, chicken livers and jam to them. The big favourites are vetkoek burgers or with Russians.
"I try to give them the whole township experience as best I can," Mamtshawe says.
"I serve only local food - even down to the snacks I sell for 20c a biscuit and 50c for chips. It is no use serving the big loaves of bread they are used to."
She hosts up to 20 tourists at a time for breakfast.
Her neighbour and faithful customer, Willson Nethi, said: "I enjoy the vetkoek because they are fresh. I come here every day.
"I'm not sure what makes them different, but I definitely know they are different because I keep on coming here."
Mother and two kids saved by the humble vetkoek
IT WAS the death of her husband that led her to the humble vetkoek as a means to survival.
Khayelitsha's Khanyisa Gamadana, known to many as Mamtshawe, her clan name, is a respected entrepreneur who earns a living by frying vetkoek.
Just a few years ago things were not so rosy for her. Two weeks after Mamtshawe, her husband and two children moved into a new house they had waited for a long time, her husband suddenly died.
The unemployed Mamtshawe was left with two children to support. Out of desperation she started making vetkoek and selling them from her home.
"I was desperate for comfort," she recalls.
"I wore black, could not go anywhere and that was driving me crazy. I just wanted to hear people speaking or to see people."
At first schoolchildren bought the vetkoek. Then more people started coming in. The demand for her vetkoek grew and people urged her to make more. She now works her way through about 20kg of flour a day.
She and her neighbour, Nosisa Konifi, who runs the Linawo Children's Home, now cook for tourists visiting Khayelitsha.
The tourists love the vetkoek so she designed a menu to go with them.
She serves burgers, Russians, French polony, chicken livers and jam to them. The big favourites are vetkoek burgers or with Russians.
"I try to give them the whole township experience as best I can," Mamtshawe says.
"I serve only local food - even down to the snacks I sell for 20c a biscuit and 50c for chips. It is no use serving the big loaves of bread they are used to."
She hosts up to 20 tourists at a time for breakfast.
Her neighbour and faithful customer, Willson Nethi, said: "I enjoy the vetkoek because they are fresh. I come here every day.
"I'm not sure what makes them different, but I definitely know they are different because I keep on coming here."
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