Mbhashe Gold began as a simple idea in kuGatyane, Eastern Cape. It grew from honest conversations between four graduates who shared the same struggle: unemployment. Together, they turned their shared challenges into opportunities. Today, Mbhashe Gold is a proud example of what’s possible when young people work with purpose, creating jobs, and bringing new hope to their community.
When Anda Zaku left the city to seek greener pastures back home, he soon realised that many graduates like him were unemployed and spending their days at home with no clear opportunities. That’s when he decided to reach out to some of them and explore what they could do together to improve their situation.
Among those he connected with were Lisa Lolwana, who holds a bachelor of health sciences in sports coaching and human movement sciences from North-West University; Anathi Mnukwa, with a national diploma in farming and management at King Hintsa College; and Elihle Mpikwa, who has a national diploma in hospitality and catering management from Central Johannesburg College. Zaku holds a national diploma in industrial relations from Tshwane University of Technology.
Local minds shaping rural progress
In 2024, they formed a co-operative after realising that rural communities are often excluded from the manufacturing space. They noticed that people in these areas were mostly consumers rather than producers or manufacturers of their own goods.
That’s how Mbhashe Gold was born: a brand created to ensure that local produce is turned into finished products that can compete with major commercial brands. Their flagship product is a natural, locally made peanut butter.
“We don’t add sugar to our peanut butter, it’s 100% groundnuts infused with local honey.”
Anda Zaku
They source their honey from Qombe Honey and Zingisa Co-op, both based in the Eastern Cape. Zaku explains that their production process is simple but food-safe: the peanuts are roasted, cooled, skinned and then ground before packaging, with strict quality checks at every stage.
“We’re very serious about quality,” he adds. “Our peanut butter is completely natural and preservative-free.”
The team also carefully monitors the moisture content of the groundnuts to prevent aflatoxin contamination, which can cause mould and food poisoning. They buy their glass jars from Consol, a deliberate choice made for both quality and sustainability.
“Good-quality glass is a more sustainable choice for Mbhashe Gold,” says Zaku. “It’s better for the environment than plastic and helps preserve the flavour of the peanut butter.”
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Turning teamwork into taste
Lolwana tells Food For Mzansi that they use the Spanish groundnut cultivar because it performed best during their pilot planting.
“When we made our first batch of peanut butter, we realised this cultivar worked perfectly with our local climate and gave our product a richer texture. Spanish groundnuts also tend to be more oily, which complements our signature flavour,” she explains.
For now, they source their peanuts outside the Eastern Cape, but that’s something they want to change.
“Our goal is to plant and source all our ingredients right here in Mbhashe and Amathole,” says Lolwana. “We’re also working towards having 60% of our groundnuts supplied by contracted smallholder farmers, while the rest will come from our own co-op lease plot.
She adds that one of their greatest strengths is teamwork. “The five of us sat down and structured our roles according to our strengths, and that’s been working well for us since last year.”
At Mbhashe Gold:
- Anda Zaku serves as the founder, visionary, and lead fundraiser, driving strategy, partnerships, and innovation.
- Anathi Mnukwa leads sales, marketing, and farmer relations, ensuring a strong link with local producers.
- Lisa Lolwana manages financial planning and product development, keeping the business sustainable.
- Elihle Mpikwa heads product development, improving taste, packaging, and quality.
- Notemba Jonas supports product preparation and deliveries, keeping production smooth.
Showcasing Mbhashe Gold
According to Mnukwa, Mbhashe Gold is still operating informally but has already been making its presence felt at several trade shows with help from the Mbhashe Municipality.
The team has showcased their peanut butter at events including the Durban Tourism Indaba 2025, the Bhisho Agricultural Show, the Amathole Food and Trade Fair in Xhora, and the Organic & Natural Products Expo Africa in Sandton.
She explains that they have recently received a barcode for their peanut butter, which will allow them to enter the retail market once their production machinery is upgraded.
“At the moment, our project is self-funded through contributions from the founders, but we’ve already started engaging potential funders and are hopeful for positive feedback.”
Mnukwa says their long-term goal is for Mbhashe Gold to grow into a proudly South African brand that supports local farmers.
The team hopes to establish a groundnut belt within the Amathole District Municipality, creating market access for new-era farmers. Mbhashe Gold also aims to act as an aggregator, helping rural farmers enter the commercial space and create employment opportunities at the grassroots level.
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