ZOLISWA KHAPHA grew up in a traditional Xhosa household in Xesi, near Middledrift, in the Eastern Cape. She arrived in Cape Town in order to find work in 2001. However, when no work appeared, she set up a business of her own selling amagwinya (Xhosa vetkoek). In this way she supported herself for the first two years. Then she found work as a domestic and through her employer, who remains one of our most enthusiastic students, was recommended to Xhosa Fundis. We have never looked back.

Zoliswa is the voice on Xhosa Fundis’ audio CDs and students love meeting her. She is a kind-hearted and loyal person who has been with Xhosa Fundis from its earliest days. Zoliswa fulfils numerous roles from giving language advice around colloquial usage to assisting students in classes to making filter coffee and keeping our venue looking great.