Thandiswa Ngenju is a born and bred Grahamstonian, growing up in Xolani Location at Tantyi but currently renting in Extension 8 Joza.
Mother of three children Ngenju enjoyed cooking from a young age. “From my childhood cooking was my hobby and even at school at Nombulelo Secondary School I took Home Economics as a subject, and I feel in love with”.
After matric she was not sure what career to follow, but advice from someone close made her convert a hobby into a career, although lack of funding discouraged her.
Ngenju was invited to Johannesburg by an uncle, who helped her find a bakery and dairy job.
“I met a lady there who mentored me, gave me the basics of how to bake cakes etc,” she said. After nine years, with plenty experience in the baking industry, Ngenju was given a job at a Grahamstown business “and they put me in a bakery section and I had to bake cakes [all]day. Customers would download pictures of their cakes and bring them to me so I had to do it as it [was in]that picture”.
After another four years, Ngenju took a decision “to start my own small business from home.” Many of her former customers still support her “and they recommend me to other people”.
“If someone wants to order wedding cakes it takes me two days to do that. First day I do the first layer and the second day I will do the second layer,” she said. She said it takes her three to four hours to complete a birthday cake. Ngenju can be contacted, for all orders, on 063 336 546 or tngeju@gmail.com
