Our baristas turn coffee into an experience you’ll remember sip after sip.
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LINDOKHUHLE XABA
RADISSON BLU UMHLANGA
I enjoy working in a dynamic and fast-paced organisation that allows me to grow both personally and professionally. I have strong interpersonal skills and aspire to influence people positively. My long-term career goal is to become a professional barista, open my own coffee shop, and grow within the hospitality industry. I plan to attend industry conferences, take online courses, and seek mentorship from experienced professionals in the field.
I’m reading Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
“Your time is never wasted when you’re gathering information.
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
MBALI MKHIZE
DURBAN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE
I have a passion for service, a love for travel and culture, opportunities for creativity and growth, and a desire to make a positive impact on others. That’s why I chose a career in hospitality. My long-term goal is to acquire a deep understanding of hotel operations, guest services, and hospitality culture, and to develop strong customer service skills for coordinating successful events. I am currently doing more training and engaging fully in conversations to understand and respond effectively.
I’m reading The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
LUNGISANI GUMEDE
BEVERLY HILLS
I love interacting with people and am always willing to help. My role model is Lungile Mkhize. My long-term goal is to reach the top of my field and be recognised as one of the best in this line of work. To further develop my skills, I continue learning about the bar and the industry in general. As a waiter, I aim to be known for excellence in my profession.
I’m reading Lord of the Flies by William Golding
LUYANDA GXATSHEKWANA
SALA BEACH HOUSE
I was inspired to pursue a career in hospitality because I enjoy creating meaningful experiences for people and making them feel welcome and valued. The fast-paced, service-driven environment motivates me to give my best every day, and I find great satisfaction in being part of a team that brings comfort, joy, and excellence to guests. My long-term career goal is to become a leading mixologist and bar manager, known for innovative world-class cocktails and exceptional guest experiences. I aim to grow into a leadership role where I can mentor young bartenders and help raise the standards of bar service in South Africa and beyond.
To further develop my skills, I attend local tasting events, bar shows, and hospitality workshops whenever possible, and I practice new recipes.
I’m reading Liquid Intelligence by Dave Arnold
THOBELANI SHIBE
THE OYSTER BOX
I have always had a natural passion for people and service. Seeing how a warm welcome or great experience can brighten someone’s day inspired me to pursue a career in hospitality. My long-term goal is to grow within the industry by building strong service skills, gaining leadership experience, and upholding a five-star standard aiming for excellence and leaving my golden fingerprints on everything I do. I recently joined a learnership program in F&B.
I’m reading Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
LELETU MOLEFE
SOUTHERN SUN ELANGENI & MAHARANI
My passion for cooking and delivering excellent service led me to the hospitality industry, where becoming a mixologist felt like the perfect fit. I enjoy the creativity and pressure of crafting unique cocktails, and the immediate feedback from guests is highly motivating. Discovering the art of coffee making further fueled my passion, inspiring me with the balance of simplicity and complexity in creating something remarkable from just a few ingredients. My long-term goal is to collaborate with industry leaders to create immersive, real-world learning experiences. I aspire to develop hands-on training programs for youth and underprivileged individuals, helping to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in hospitality. I am seeking mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals while staying updated on industry trends and research.
I’m reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu
BRIAN MLUNGISI HLOPHE
SOUTHERN SUN THE EDWARD
I pursued a career in hospitality because I enjoy cooking and taking care of others in takeaway and fast food shops. My long-term goal is to own my own restaurant. Currently, I work as a barista, focusing on coffee.
I’m reading Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper
BOB MODISE
SANDTON SUN & TOWERS
I love interacting with different personalities and cultures, which inspired me to pursue a career in hospitality. My role model is Ronald John “Jock” Masterton, who founded Mastertons Coffee & Tea Specialists in Port Elizabeth in 1924. He was a pioneer in South Africa’s coffee industry, introducing high-quality coffee roasting and blending. I want to open my own coffee shops and roast my own coffee to supply hotels and restaurants in South Africa and abroad. I use every opportunity to help my colleagues at work, especially baristas, in making coffees for our guests.
TSHEPHO MALEFANE
SUN CITY CONVENTION CENTRE HOTEL
My role model is my supervisor who taught us how to set up and clean coffee machines. I would like to become a setup supervisor to gain knowledge and effectively manage my duties. I am learning more about being a barista and aspire to become a highly skilled barista.
I’m reading The Curious Barista’s Guide to Coffee by Tristan Stephenson
Water Quality Matters: Coffee is 98% water. Filtered water with 70–150ppm of total dissolved solids gives the best taste.
Tristan Stephenson
MAANDA HENDRICK MUKWEVHO
SOUTHERN SUN ROSEBANK
What inspired me to pursue a career in hospitality was the opportunity to meet new people and learn about their cultures and origins. Meeting guests from all over the world inspires me in many different ways, mostly positive. My role model would have to be my mum, as she was a single parent. My career goals are to achieve and learn as much as possible from my colleagues and mentors. I hope to win a major competition sometime soon and would also love to open a coffee shop someday. I’ve been giving myself an extra push to learn about the coffee machine and the grinders as well because I believe they play a major role in how the coffee tastes.
FISTOS GAOLATLHE MAMPE
INTERCONTINENTAL JHB O.R. TAMBO AIRPORT
It’s for career growth and to learn more about the roots of the industry. I aspire to become a beverage specialist and serve as a group sommelier for the company, gain international recognition, and travel the world. I’m seeking hands-on experience across various roles within the beverage sector—bartending, mixology, and wine service—while experimenting with new ingredients, recipes, and techniques.
I’m reading A Man of Purpose and Power A 90-Day Devotional by Myles Munroe
ITUMELENG MOTAUNG
INTERCONTINENTAL JHB O.R. TAMBO AIRPORT
My love for people and for creating positive experiences is what drew me to the hospitality industry. My role model is Gordon Ramsay. I would like to grow within the hospitality industry, exploring different departments such as reception or concierge, and I would also like to do more training.
I’m reading Things I Never Said to Myself by Duduzile Noeleen Ngwenya
TEBOHO JOSEPH
SUN TIME SQUARE
My pursuit of a career in hospitality stems from a deep-seated passion for creating positive and memorable experiences for others. I have also enjoyed the dynamic and fast-paced environment of customer service. My long-term career goals center around leveraging my skills and experience to create innovative and sustainable solutions within the hospitality industry. This pursuit reflects my commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
LEYLA GREEN
NH SANDTON
I’ve always been passionate about coffee from brewing to serving and the café culture that brings people together. My role model is my mother. My long-term career goal is to work closely with the company’s clientele and oversee major projects. I am acquiring a deep understanding of hotel operations, guest services, and hospitality culture. To further develop my skills, I practice pulling shots, grinding, building drinks, latte art, and roasting.
I’m reading Stop Thinking, Start Living by Richard Carlson
THAPELO THIBEDI
SUN CITY CASCADES
My personal passion lies in creating memorable experiences and making a positive impact on guests’ lives. My long-term career goal is to become a hotel general manager, overseeing daily operations and strategy. I want to enhance guest experiences in ways that improve satisfaction and loyalty. I believe in continuous learning, staying updated through relevant literature, and exploring industry research to expand my knowledge and skills.
MOHALE ISAACK NGOBENI
54 ON BATH
I have been inspired by the passion to serve. I love and enjoy interacting with people from across the world, and hospitality has provided me with that opportunity to showcase my talent and capabilities. I look up to the people who have been in the industry before me, including my supervisor and senior colleagues at work. I wish to remain with the same establishment, occupying more senior positions and having shares in the company I am currently working with. I aspire to own one of the biggest supply companies, creating jobs to help reduce unemployment while contributing to economic growth in our country and worldwide. I am currently doing a business management course to enhance my knowledge and qualifications to be competitive in the industry, while also enrolled in the Southern Sun Aspiring Supervisors programme.
I’m reading The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White and Passing the Baton by Jeremy Walker
DYISA NTEZO
CAPE GRACE, A FAIRMONT HOTEL, PART OF ACCOR
My fellow colleagues, a mixologist and a wine sommelier, are my role models. I would love to learn more about whiskey and become a whiskey sommelier. I am looking into studying whiskey in depth.
I’m reading PDT Cocktail Book by Jim Meehan
NADIAN HELMEY
THE OYSTER COLLECTION
I enjoy the process of making people feel happy, comfortable, and well cared for. My mum is my biggest role model in this industry because, as a single hard-working parent in hospitality, she always had a smile at work, which inspired me to follow in her footsteps.
My goal is to become a well-known barista in this industry, and I would like to guide learners from our village to become skilled baristas for our guests and to explore the world in this industry. I want to build my professional skills and gain experience in the service industry.
I’m reading You Become What You Think by Vic Johnson
SIPHESIHLE DUMA
SOUTHERN SUN NEWLANDS
To be honest, I didn’t know anything about hospitality until I got this job. Then I fell in love with the bar; the smell of coffee in the morning just brightened my day. Mandla is my role model because of the passion and love he puts into making coffee. I would like to become a well-known barista, the person people call for coffee tastings. I want to gain more knowledge about coffee and travel the world because I want to be THE barista. I aim to travel around the world, taste all types of coffee, and one day enter the World Barista Championship.
NOSIHLE RONO
THE PRESIDENT HOTEL
I love working with people, art, and seeing results in everything I do. I would love to own my own barista academy, where I can train baristas to become the best of the best! I practice every day and read extensively online about coffee-making and latte art. I’m reading Nothing but the Truth by John Kani.
DARYL DANIELS
MOUNT NELSON, A BELMOND HOTEL, CAPE TOWN
To be able to travel the world through hospitality and learn about different culinary traditions. My goal is to become a senior manager in food and beverage. I am studying a hospitality diploma course.
I’m reading Hospitality Options
NOMFUNDO MBUYISILE
THE VINEYARD HOTEL
The latte art and the smell of coffee captivated me. I fell in love with coffee, and it changed my life. Behind the coffee machine, with the goods and the croissants and coffees I make, I feel I can change lives. My role model is Winston Thomas. I aim to teach women in my future coffee academy how to become professional baristas and to open more coffee shops to create jobs in South Africa. I further develop my skills by researching coffee and spending time on social media following champions with extensive knowledge.
I’m reading The Secret Life of Coffee by Grégoire Paul
MARCO JEFTHA
SOUTHERN SUN THE CULLINAN
I love a challenge, the hospitality industry has helped me with my social anxiety. My role model is, and always will be, my grandmother. I see myself as a supervisor and eventually a manager. I have yet to decide which field within the industry I want to pursue. By doing skill development courses on our e-learning platform called Go1, I have also applied for an aspiring supervisor course through my current employment to develop my skills further.
I’m reading The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
LWANDILE ROGER BUDA
THE TWELVE APOSTLES HOTEL & SPA
I like to work with people and interact with guests. My long-term career goal is to see myself becoming a General Manager. I am doing more practice and research on how to be a good barista.
LESEDI NTULI
TAJ CAPE TOWN
The bar first caught my interest in the hospitality industry. My long-term career goal is to be a well-rounded, qualified manager in my department. I am enriching and furthering my skills by learning from people who are more qualified than myself and by going out to other places to experience service from a guest’s point of view.
MASANDE MFUTU
THE SILO HOTEL
Good opportunity to make money after Matric, and that’s how I ended up falling in love with my industry. I would like to become the best coffee and tea expert in South Africa and teach others who don’t know about coffee. I am conducting research on coffee and undergoing training in coffee.
I’m reading 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson
The book is structured around twelve rules, each accompanied by an essay that delves into its significance and application. Peterson uses personal anecdotes, religious stories, and psychological research to illustrate each rule.
Jordan B. Peterson’s rules are:
Stand up straight with your shoulders back
Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping
Make friends with people who want the best for you
Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today
Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them
Set your house in perfect order before you criticise the world
Pursue what is meaningful (not what is expedient)
Tell the truth or, at least, don’t lie
Assume that the person you are listening to might know something you don’t
Be precise in your speech
Do not bother children when they are skateboarding
Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street
These rules aim to provide a framework for individuals seeking to navigate the complexities of life with discipline and purpose.
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