Lelemela Foods – A Taste of Home, A Vision for the World

When you talk about township hustle with purpose, Auther Thetha is a name you need to know. Born and bred in Meloding, Virginia, this passionate entrepreneur is the co-founder and proud owner of Lelemela Foods, a local brand that’s shaking things up in the food industry, not just in South Africa, but beyond our borders too.

Auther didn’t just wake up and decide to start a food company. Nah, this one comes from heart, vision, and a deep love for his community. “We chose this industry because we want to manufacture our own products, right here in Mzansi,” he says. “Not just for us South Africans, but also for other countries to buy our proudly local products as exports.”

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For Auther, it’s more than just business, it’s about reclaiming economic power. “If we can produce our own goods, we keep the money flowing inside our economy. That means more jobs, more opportunities, and a kasi that thrives.”

But there’s another layer to this mission health and safety. Auther believes that when we create our own products, we have control over quality. “A lot of the imported stuff? We don’t always know what’s inside. But our products? Re tseba hore di bolokehile, di na le boleng.”

From community kitchens to potential supermarket shelves across Africa and beyond, Lelemela Foods is turning local dreams into global realities. And at only 29, Auther Thetha is proof that young black excellence from the kasi is alive and kicking.