From making chips at home to a Pitori Food Icon: The Zozo Cafe Story

Ngwana Pitori
5 days ago
3 min read

Zozo Cafe is more than just a place to eat, it is a story of resilience, faith, and consistency rooted in Pretoria West. Founded by Thapelo “Pronto” Motaung, Zozo Cafe has grown from a small home-based food stallekies into one of Pitori’s most loved kasi restaurants.

The journey began in 2013, at a time when finding employment was proving difficult. Encouraged by his mother to “make a plan” and bring something into the household, Pronto and his fam started cooking using his mother's small chip-making stove at home. With only a few sphatlo and chips orders, they sold from a modest stall outside their home.

Social media played a crucial role from the start. Before platforms like TikTok became popular for them, Facebook was the main marketing tool. By posting pictures and updates of their food, people quickly took interest. The positive response confirmed what Pronto already felt, this wasn’t just a hustle, it had real potential. From the beginning, the aim was to be different from the typical sphatlo sa atchaar people were used to, introducing new ideas and elevating the experience.

By 2014, the momentum had grown, and the business was officially named Zozo Cafe. Interestingly, the name came from a school assignment where Pronto had to create a business concept. The name stayed, and so did the vision.

Over the years, Zozo Cafe’s menu evolved organically, shaped not only by creativity but also by customer input. Listening to what people wanted became a key part of the brand. This approach led to a menu that now features speciality sphatlos, dagwoods, paninis, and wings, all made with a distinct Zozo Cafe touch.

Two items stand out as true representations of the brand: Sphazozo, their signature sphatlo, and Dagzozo, their unique dagwood. Unlike the usual versions people were familiar with, these offerings are crafted differently, a difference customers immediately taste and keep coming back for. As Pronto puts it, sa rena ke sa fashion.

Consistency is one of Zozo Cafe’s strongest values. Whether a customer visits in January or June, the standard remains the same. This consistency is built through discipline in the kitchen, a clear understanding of the menu, and passion from the staff, ensuring every plate looks and tastes just as good as the last.

Zozo Cafe also embraces the idea of social eating. Their food is intentionally made to be visually appealing, the kind of meal that naturally makes people reach for their phones to take pictures and share online. This culture of sharing is paired with a strong commitment to quality, something the brand never compromises on.

Behind the scenes, Pronto credits one key element for the business’s growth: prayer.

Faith, combined with hard work, has guided Zozo Cafe through its journey and continues to push it forward.

Like many food businesses, the biggest challenge has been funding and cash flow. Growth didn’t come from big investors, but from reinvesting money earned from customers. Through passion, patience, and persistence, the business continued to grow despite limited resources. The mindset has always been simple, keep working and never give up.

One of Zozo Cafe’s proudest achievements is becoming number one in Pitori for sphatlo. "If wa gana come taste for yourself" Pronto says. Another milestone is the transformation from a street-style setup to a proper restaurant with waiter service. Today, Zozo Cafe offers a sit-down experience where customers are served at their tables, a far cry from the early days of selling from a home stall.

What makes Zozo Cafe truly special is its ability to blend Pitori kasi culture with a modern lifestyle. Customers enjoy traditional kasi food presented beautifully, with service similar to restaurants in more affluent areas of Pretoria.

The aim is clear: to bring modern dining experiences to the hood without losing cultural identity.

Looking ahead, Pronto envisions Zozo Cafe as a national South African brand, with hopes of one day expanding beyond the country while remaining proudly South African. He also dreams of building a work culture that people genuinely aspire to be part of, a place where employees are proud to work.

From a small chip stove to a respected kasi restaurant, Zozo Cafe stands as proof that with faith, consistency, and community support, great things can grow from humble beginnings.