The Woman Behind Bertie

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 easing up to a school gate at dawn, or followed the warm aroma of freshly baked cookies weaving through a weekend market, then you already know Bertie. The tiny-but-mighty mobile café has become a Southern Suburbs favourite — a friendly flash of yellow and joy rolling through everyday routines.

But behind Bertie’s charm, community spirit, and cult-following is someone even more remarkable.

This is Michelle’s story — the thinker, the doer, the community builder, and the unexpected entrepreneur who created one of Cape Town’s most loved businesses… without ever planning to.

From Barefoot Farm Days to Big-City Business

Michelle’s journey begins far from Cape Town’s leafy suburbs — on a citrus farm near Addo in the Eastern Cape. Running barefoot through orchards with her siblings, she grew up with grounded confidence, practicality, and the natural resourcefulness that farm life instills.

She didn’t use the word entrepreneurship then, but it was already part of her DNA. At fourteen, she started selling roses from the farm to classmates — her first unofficial business venture.

After completing her BComm Management Accounting degree at Stellenbosch University, Michelle spent a decade in London, becoming a Chartered Management Accountant and building a strong corporate career. She returned to Cape Town in 2011 and settled with her young son, Jack, in the Southern Suburbs.

She built a career she enjoyed, forged deep community ties, and created a life she cherished.

What she didn’t realise then was that every step was preparing her to build something entirely her own.

A Community Project That Accidentally Sparked a Business

Bertie didn’t begin with ambition.
It began with generosity.

As the founder of the Keurboom Park Family Market, Michelle met a small coffee shop owner who dreamed of owning a mobile coffee vehicle. Instead of simply cheering him on, she rallied support — raising over R130 000 through sponsorships and community fundraising to help make it a reality.

But just before the tuk-tuk was completed, the owner stepped away, leaving Michelle with a nearly finished vehicle and one big question:

What now?

Many would have walked away.
Michelle stepped forward.

She took ownership of the tuk-tuk, named it Bertie (after a friend’s beagle), and made a decision that would redirect the course of her life.

Becoming “Mrs Bertie”

Michelle had zero coffee experience, but what she did have was instinct, grit, and endless determination. She hired William Mofolo — now her Operations Manager — and approached a few schools.

Parents loved it. Kids adored it. Communities embraced it.

Within weeks, Bertie had personality.
Within months, it had momentum.
Soon, Michelle had a new nickname: “Mrs Bertie.”

She became the woman behind the wheel — literally and figuratively — juggling early mornings, late-night baking with Jack, stock runs, events, staff management, and a growing fan base that treated Bertie like a neighbourhood friend.

Building a Business With Heart (and Cookies)

What makes Bertie special isn’t just the coffee — it’s the ethos Michelle infused into the brand:

Warmth
Integrity
Genuine community connection
Consistency

Every barista is chosen as much for kindness as for skill. Every cookie tastes the same because she refuses to compromise on real butter. Every drink is served with familiarity — the kind you get from a neighbour, not a franchise.

And it paid off.

In 2023, Bertie won the KFM Best of the Cape Station’s Choice Award, demand soared, a second tuk-tuk was added, two bakers joined the team, and Michelle’s mom’s lemonade recipe became a runaway hit.