By Everson Luhanga
- Nomzamo Steven, 37, started Mzansi Bread Bakery in Motherwell in 2025. The bakery sells traditional South African bread from home.
- Steven is a waitress in Germany and uses wages to fund the bakery. She visits Motherwell roughly every three months.
Mzansi Bread Bakery operates from a home kitchen in Motherwell, Gqeberha. Nomzamo Steven is the founder.
Steven has one daughter. She works as a waitress in Germany and lives there. Her wages fund the bakery.
“I started Mzansi Bread Bakery because of my deep love for traditional South African bread,” she says.
Living in Germany changed how she thinks about bread. “While living and working in Germany, I was inspired by how much Germans value and celebrate their bread,” Steven says.
She thought about the bread she grew up eating. “In South Africa, we grow up eating breads like Isonka Sombhako, Ujeqe, Rostile, Dombolo and Amagwinya,” she says. “Yet, there is no bakery dedicated solely to producing and celebrating our traditional South African breads.”
The bakery focuses only on traditional bread. Customers order in advance due to limited space. Bread costs between R30 and R70.
The bakery employs four people who help with baking and daily work.
Steven donates bread to a local school every Tuesday. She also supports the Motherwell community.
The business has won recognition. It placed fifth at the Standard Bank small business awards for 2025 and fifth at a South African airport exhibition. It also won two exhibitions in October and November.
Steven says people must act. “You don’t need perfect conditions to begin,” she says. “Use your skills, your hands and your passion.”
Her vision is clear. “I want to grow the business, create more jobs and preserve our bread making heritage,” she says.
Mzansi Bread stands for Isintu. Isonka. Ubuntu.
Pictured above: Nomzamo Steven.
Image source: Supplied
