THE KOTA or bunny chow is a favourite South African fast food.
It’s made with a hollowed quarter-loaf of bread and filled with different ingredients such as slap chips, sliced polony, fried egg, atchaar, cheese, tomato sauce and more.
This iconic Mzansi meal can be prepared in many useful ways which makes it a great menu item everywhere.
According to research by the 2016 Parmalat Phuma Phambili programme, the kota business is a R10 billion industry which employs up to 70 000 people.
Earlier this week, selected kota business owners received awards from Parmalat, the dairy corporation.
Betty Ndawonde, Busi Dladla and Pule Babie are regional winners representing Joburg while Doris Motatanya represented Polokwane and Maryjane Ngwenya, Mpumalanga.
The event was held at Moyo’s at Melrose Arch and SunFood spoke to Doris, who said she did not expect the award.
“Events like this really encourage us as business owners and boost our confidence,” she said.
Doris said that started her business, TKP Kitchen, in 2004.
“I struggled to find a job after I graduated from university so I started a kota business for myself,” she said.
She said she named the company after her kids who have benefited greatly through the business.
“One of my kids is an attorney, another studied travel and tourism, and the last is a fitness instructor.”
Andre Mahoney, Parmalat marketing executive, said: “We’re passionate about people who do great things with limited resources, which is why we support small businesses in the informal market.
“We want to keep their entrepreneurial spirit motivated because ultimately, small businesses are the economic heartbeat of South Africa, and they need all the help they can get to not just survive, but thrive.” he said.
