Zinhle Cele
Adding sweet flavour to entrepreneurship DUT Catering Management student and budding professional chef, Ms Zinhle Cele, shares her passion and flair for all things delicious…
components meant to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to manage a commercial kitchen or catering business of their own. Through work integrated learning, students are also given the opportunity to gain handson industry experience. The course is well rounded with fundamental modules that include commercial cookery and restaurant operations but also extends to information systems, hygiene and safety and financial management. This is taught both in the context of industry operations and with the possibility of entrepreneurship in mind. Every journey comes with its challenges and Cele says that her experience at DUT was difficult at times – due to the lack of funding in her first year and all the hardship of being a student, adjusting to university life, independence and the prospect of entering the world of work.
Catering Management student Ms Zinhle Cele and her lecturer Ms Raeesah Khan show off their latest pastry creation – a croquembouche with creamfilled choux buns.
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ele was born and bred in sunny Durban, a place where flavours from the east and west collide with traditional African cuisine. She grew up with four brothers and was always drawn to the hub of activity in the kitchen – the sweet aromas and magic that took place every mealtime, especially at important family events. As a young girl, she dreamt of one day becoming a doctor, but as she grew up she discovered that cooking was her genuine love. Her passion for food continued to grow while studying Catering Management at high school. “My mom is a teacher, she encouraged me to pursue a career in catering and helped me register at the Durban University of Technology,” reflects Cele.“Cooking is more than a job – it is the art, science, and craft of using heat to prepare food. As a chef, I am here to get your taste buds dancing,” she says poetically. DUT lecturer Ms Raeesah Khan explains that the Catering Management Diploma consists of both theoretical and practical
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However, DUT prepared her for the catering industry in a number of ways – she completed her in-service training at St Mary’s Hospital kitchen and also received vital support in launching her own business, Zeeyenzeka, in 2020. “The name of my catering business is ‘Zeeyenzeka’, which means: It will happen,” says Cele.“What it means to me is that no matter what obstacles I might face… my business will succeed. I cater for all kinds of events, parties and baby showers to name a few.” Khan says that Cele is an ambitious young lady who is selfmotivated and will achieve every success in her career. “She is an all rounder in the kitchen and has done well in hot kitchen, cold kitchen and pastry sections. Zinhle has a ‘never-give-up’ spirit and grabs any opportunity to pave her career path.” “I always tell my students that when they graduate, they do not just graduate with their qualification, but rather also an acquired skill that they can use to create their own business opportunities. Entrepreneurship is pivotal in today’s economic climate as it drives innovation and allows new markets to develop,” adds Khan. Khan, along with HOD Dr KM Naidoo offered further support to Cele’s business by conducting an interview and video shoot, which was posted on the DUT website.
