The Scandal! actress has a new business venture.
What a way to start 2018!
Mapaseka’s new café, Gorge, is located in Sandton at the Gautrain station and is set to officially open today.
She also had her friends and colleagues to celebrate with her at her new café this past weekend including:
Rhythm City actor Mduduzi Mabaso and his wife Fatima
Scandal! actor Howza Mosese
Scandal!actors and real-life couple Hungani Ndlovu and Stephanie Sandows
Scandal!actor Kagiso Modupe
We spoke to Mapaseka to find out more about her new baby:
Congrats Mapaseka. How did this new venture come along?
It’s always been a dream of mine to own something. The name of the café is Gorge and it’s a franchise. They sell healthy sandwiches, freshly squeezed juice and coffee. There is a Gorge close to my house and after I gave birth my husband often had lunch delivered to me from there. I enjoyed the sandwhiches and juice so much that I went to visit and my husband and I spoke about how much we would love to own a space like that someday. Little did I know that he had a chat with the owner who advised that they are selling a stand and the rest is history.
Does this mean you’re going to leave acting?
I don’t think it will affect my acting because it’s two different things altogether. Acting is my first love. I’m just like any other girl who had a dream to own a business. There are so many women out there who have 9 to 5 jobs but still have things on the side. You can never say you have enough money. Things are expensive. As you grow you get to realise that you also love other things. I’m still on Scandal! people mustn’t worry. I’m still part of e.tv
How are you going to juggle the business with your acting career if new opportunities come along?
I own the business with my husband and a friend of ours who is also a partner. What’s nice about us actors is that sometimes we can be at work for two days in a month meaning we can use our time to do other things unlike fulltime employees. It’s about utilizing your time to do other things. If other things come my way I’ll do them because I’ve opened that door and people will now start seeing me in a different light. 2018 is the year I’m going to prove to myself that I can do more, bigger and better things. I want that girl from Bloemfontein, Rocklands where I’m from to know that it’s possible. People often only see the end result but don’t know what a person goes through to get there.
We saw some nice pictures on Instagram. Did you have a launch event?
It wasn’t really a launch it was just a celebration with people who know my journey, whom I’ve spoken to about what I want in life and who know where this whole thing comes from. It’s mostly my colleagues who are close friends. So no, it was not an official launch but a celebration with close friends.
The store is opening today. How is it going so far?
I’m only on my way there now. My husband is there. He woke up at 5AM. People were saying they’ll be there today and want to take selfies, so because I told them and most are excited for me I’m going to see how it goes. I’ve also realized that we as people must stop saying “I hope it goes well”. I’m not hoping it will go well, I have faith it will go well. Business has its ups and downs. It’s January some people are only just returning to work. I’m not expecting anything. I’ll see when I get there.
Congratulations and all the best Mapaseka!
You can continue to catch Mapaseka as Dintle on Scandal! weekdays at 7:30PM. Follow the show on Twitter and like the Facebook page. #etvScandal