When others doubted there would be an uptake in businesses built on digital models, 46-year-old entrepreneur Clifford Mashishimane saw opportunity rather than risk.

Mashishimane owns Cliff Café in Temba, Hammanskraal, a café and lifestyle venue that has carved out a unique space in this semi-urban community since opening in 2022.

Born and raised in Hammanskraal, Clifford has always been passionate about creating spaces for social interaction – places where people can meet, network and host events. When the Covid-19 pandemic shifted how people worked and engaged with the world, he saw an opportunity to create a digital-friendly café where remote workers, entrepreneurs and locals could continue doing business without leaving their community.

Using shipping containers from his former construction business, Mashishimane built the café from the ground up. At the time, many questioned whether a tech-enabled model that came with QR-code menus, digital ordering and cashless payment systems would work in an area where cash still dominated. But he had the support of the local business forum, the Path Finders, a group of entrepreneurs helping one another grow.

“Hosting their events at Cliff Café attracted young professionals, many originally from Hammanskraal or nearby, who were looking for a modern space with a familiar kasi vibe,”

Regular patrons like medical practitioners Onkgopotse Nkeba (31) and Sibusiso Nyathi (27) have embraced Cliff Café not just for its ambience but for its ease of access to services.

“Digital makes it easy. You scan the code, see the menu, order and pay. It’s quick and efficient,”

“Even when you forget your wallet, you can just tap your phone,”

Clifford admits there were initial doubts about whether such a business model would take off in Hammanskraal. But from day one, the response was overwhelmingly positive.

“It proved to us that people were aware of digital solutions, but they just hadn’t had the chance to use them in spaces like ours,” he says. “That gave us the confidence to keep investing in the right systems.”

Alongside partner and stakeholder Abdul-Jami Tswai, Mashishimane is helping to shift community mindsets toward digital payments.

“Our customers understand the convenience and safety of going cashless,” says Tswai. “It saves time, limits safety risks and helps people feel more secure.”

Digital payments have also made the café’s operations smoother. Record-keeping is more efficient, tips are easily separated from regular sales and there’s been a noticeable drop in security threats.

“Keeping less cash on site has reduced the risk of break-ins,” notes café manager Purity Mangayi.

Despite the challenges that come with running a digitally driven business, such as occasional network outages, more people in the area are growing comfortable with incorporating tech and digital into their lifestyles, says Mashishimane.

“They know that while no system is perfect, these digital tools are reliable and transparent. And if we keep championing the adoption of the latest innovations in our communities, more of our small-town businesses can leap into the future without losing their cultural identity and sense of authenticity.”