Wardah Cassiem is the owner of Wadi’s Kitchen, a halaal food stall at CoCreate Hub in Stellenbosch. But she is also a mother of two, and is studying towards a degree in education. She spoke to SMF News’ Cheyenne Haas about the inspiration behind her business.
“We’re not a McDonald’s, we’re entrepreneurs,” says Wardah Cassiem, the owner of the Wadi’s Kitchen food stall at Stellenbosch’s CoCreate Hub.
She opened for business in July 2021 and, as the only halaal food stall at CoCreate Hub, and one of few halaal options for students on campus, has become a popular lunch time stop for many.
Cassiem initially started the takeaway business to help fund her studies. Her dad, who since passed away, helped her to come up with the idea of the business.
“My late dad named the business ‘Wadi’s Kitchen’ and we opened the business to fund my studies,” says Cassiem, who is also a mother to two boys, a one-year-old, and a four-year-old.
“The CoCreate Hub is about empowering the community,” says Wardah Cassiem, owner of Wadi’s Kitchen, based in Stellenbosch’s CoCreate Hub. PHOTO: Cheyenne Haas
The journey to Wadi’s Kitchen
In 2021, Cassiem was in her first year of studying and had a two-year-old at home. Her father wanted her to be able to finish her studies, and was very supportive of her business.
“He said ‘You don’t give up on your studying, even if it means we have to sell food every weekend’,” Cassiem remembers.
Her sister, Nabeelah Cassiem runs Creamy Creations in Stellenbosch’s CoCreate Hub. Nabeelah had studied to become a chef and when the CoCreate Hub approached her to bake for them, she accepted, explains Cassiem.
But the CoCreate Hub was also in need of a halaal food stall and Cassiem was in need of a home for her takeaway business.
“Nabeelah told them about Wadi’s Kitchen, I came for the interview and I got the cart,” Cassiem says.
“It all started with my late dad,” says Wardah Cassiem, the owner of Wadi’s Kitchen at the CoCreate Hub in Stellenbosch. “He’s the reason behind Wadi’s Kitchen.” PHOTO: Cheyenne Haas
Strength after loss
The black jacket Cassiem wears when working, provides strength. The jacket belonged to her father. During 2021, Cassiem’s family contracted Covid-19. Two weeks after deciding to open Wadi’s Kitchen and naming the business, her father, Mogamet Cassiem, passed away from Covid-19 related health complications.
“It was the day after Eid,” she says, referring to Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim religious holiday marking the end of Ramadan, a month-long sunrise to sunset fast.
Cassiem’s mother became a source of motivation, she says. “She’s like the driving force behind everything – she’s the reason I have nice specials,” Cassiem says, in reference to the help that she gets from her mother.
Women are able to do a million things at once, says Wardah Cassiem, the owner of Wadi’s Kitchen, but also a wife, mother of two and a third year student. PHOTO: Cheyenne Haas
‘A bit of a behind-the-scenes’
Part of working at the CoCreate Hub is building friendships and relationships with the customers, Cassiem says. “I give people a bit of a behind-the-scenes,” she says.
Cassiem describes herself and those who have a space at CoCreate as entrepreneurs and small-business owners. Every product at the CoCreate Hub has been handmade, she says. She
gestures towards the leather bags on display inside of the building, in the eyesight of Wadi’s Kitchen. The bags are made by leather goods artisan, Thabs Dube.
“Every single thing, every product – like the leather bags – is handmade,” Cassiem says.
The food at Wadi’s Kitchen is flavourful and spicy, says regular customer and former student Keegan Johnson. PHOTO: Cheyenne Haas
“We’re not a McDonald’s, we’re entrepreneurs.”
‘You have your off days. You have your good days.’
The stall is busy daily, says Pumzile Vazidlule, Cassiem’s employee. “I really enjoy working here,” she says. By working at the stall, Vazidlule is able to learn more about cooking, she says.
“You have your off days. You have your good days,” says Cassiem, who turns 30 later this year. But the community’s support makes a positive difference, she says.
Her customer market has grown substantially, says Cassiem. The market has expanded to more than just Stellenbosch University’s (SU) student population, to everyone from working individuals to the university’s staff. “It has grown quite significantly,” says Cassiem.
“It is very inclusive of the foods I would find at home in Cape Town,” says Keegan Johnson, a customer of Wadi’s Kitchen and former SU student. What attracted Johnson to the business was the feeling of home he found in the food, he says.
“It’s very hard to find food that reminds you of home – especially when you’ve grown up with Cape Malay culture and foods,” he says.
Cassiem, who is married to Imraan Darries, starts her day by preparing the food for the day. Her produce is fresh and she frequents the same shops in order to ensure the best quality of food.
“Most of the days, it’s a rollercoaster. I come to work in a rush,” Cassiem says. “Everything is chaotic. Especially running a business with school drop-offs and studying.”
Cassiem credits God for her business’s growth since being at CoCreate. “My business has grown with God by my side,” she says.
During Ramadan, Wadi’s Kitchen closed for 50 minutes over lunch to allow for owner Wardah Cassiem to attend mosque. PHOTO: Cheyenne Haas
