The woman behind Bertie - How Michelle turned an unexpected detour into Cape Town’s most loved coffee-on-wheels

If you’ve ever heard the cheerful buzz of a tuk-tuk approaching a school gate at dawn, or followed the smell of freshly baked cookies drifting through a weekend market, you already know Bertie. It’s the small-but-mighty mobile café that has become a Southern Suburbs staple, a little burst of joy on three wheels.

But behind Bertie’s charm and community magic is someone even more remarkable.

This is really a story about Michelle - the thinker, the doer, the community builder and the unexpectedly brilliant entrepreneur who created one of Cape Town’s most beloved businesses without ever planning to.

From Barefoot Farm Days to Big-City Business

Michelle’s story begins far from the city bustle — on a citrus farm near Addo in the Eastern Cape. Running barefoot through orchards with her siblings, she grew up with the kind of practical, grounded confidence only a farm childhood gives you.

Entrepreneurship wasn’t a word she used then, but it was already in her blood. At fourteen she was selling roses from the farm to classmates, her first unofficial business.

After earning her BComm Management Accounting degree from Stellenbosch, Michelle spent a decade in London becoming a Chartered Management Accountant and carving out a successful corporate career. Cape Town eventually called her home in 2011, and she settled in the Southern Suburbs with her young son, Jack.

She built a solid career, built community connections, and built a life she loved.

What she didn’t know then was that life was quietly steering her towards building something of her own.

A Community Project That Sparked a Business

Bertie didn’t start with ambition. It started with generosity.

As the founder of the Keurboom Park Family Market, Michelle met countless local vendors — including a small coffee shop owner who dreamed of owning a mobile coffee vehicle. Michelle didn’t just encourage him; she spearheaded the fundraising, rallied friends, sourced sponsorships, and helped raise more than R130 000 to bring that dream to life.

But sometimes life veers unexpectedly.

Just before the tuk-tuk was completed, the owner stepped away from the project, leaving Michelle with a nearly finished vehicle and a very big question:

What now?

It was a crossroads moment, the kind of moment where most people would step back. Michelle stepped forward. She took ownership of the tuk-tuk, named it Bertie (after a friend’s beagle), and made a decision that would reshape her life.

Becoming “Mrs Bertie”

With zero coffee experience but endless determination, Michelle hired William Mofolo - now her right hand and Operations Manager - and approached a handful of schools. Parents loved it. Kids adored it. The community welcomed Bertie with the kind of enthusiasm money can’t buy.

Within weeks, the brand had personality.

Within months, it had momentum.

And before long, Michelle had a new nickname in the neighbourhood: “Mrs Bertie.”

She became the woman behind the wheel, figuratively and quite literally, juggling early mornings, late-night baking with her son Jack, stock management, scheduling, events, staff, and a growing fan base.

Building a Business With Heart (and Cookies)

What makes Bertie work isn’t just the coffee.

It’s the ethos Michelle built it on:

Warmth.Integrity.Community connection.Consistency.

Every barista is chosen not just for skill, but for kindness. Every interaction matters. Every cookie tastes the same because only butter is used, and every drink is served with the familiarity of a neighbour, not a franchise. Bertie became more than a mobile café, it became a trusted part of people’s daily lives.

In 2023, the business earned the KFM Best of the Cape Station’s Choice Award. Demand skyrocketed. A second tuk-tuk was added. Two bakers were hired. Michelle’s mom’s homemade lemonade recipe became a sell-out favourite.

And in September 2025, Bertie hit its proudest milestone yet:

Almost 6000 hot drinks sold in one month2600 cookies baked and enjoyedA thriving business born entirely from resilience, instinct, and heart

Why Michelle’s Story Resonates

Michelle didn’t start Bertie to chase success.

She started it to solve a problem. To honour a commitment. To make something out of an unexpected situation. That’s why her story resonates so deeply. It’s not a glossy entrepreneurial fairytale, it’s a grounded, real, very human reminder that sometimes the greatest opportunities are the ones we never planned. Her strength isn’t just in the business she built.

It’s in the mindset she brought to it:

When life changes direction, you don’t crumble.You adapt.You build.You keep your integrity intact. And you create something meaningful.

What’s Next for Michelle and Bertie?

Ask Michelle and she’ll say the same thing she says to her team:

“Anything is possible.”

Maybe it’s Bertie’s Bakery.

Maybe it’s Bertie’s Ice Cream.

Maybe it’s a fleet of cheerful tuk-tuks buzzing through more communities.

Whatever comes, one thing is clear:

Bertie is more than a business.And Michelle is more than an entrepreneur.

She is the heart, the backbone, the visionary and the quiet powerhouse proving that great things grow when passion meets purpose.

To see where Bertie will be next, follow the tuk-tuk’s adventures at www.bertieonthego.com.