A chef’s jacket, a custom-built “boeriebike” and an unshakable work ethic have helped Joseph Tarisai turn a humble hustle into a booming business in a matter of weeks.
Johannesburg, South Africa (14 December 2025) – When opportunity meets effort, incredible things can happen fast. Joseph Tarisai’s BoerieBike started as a simple roadside dream in Magaliessig. Today, it’s a thriving business with back-to-back events, growing demand and a community rallying behind a man who shows up every single day.
In October, we first shared Joseph’s story on Good Things Guy. Later that same week, it was featured on the Good Things Guy segment on 947. At the time, Joseph was already well known to locals near the Magaliessig driving range, the guy in the chef’s jacket, serving boerie rolls from a custom-built bike, always smiling, always welcoming.
What followed next has been extraordinary.
Since that first feature, Joseph’s little business has taken off at speed. Event bookings started rolling in. New customers arrived already knowing his name and his story. What was once a steady roadside hustle has become a full diary and a growing operation.
“This opportunity has been amazing. Everyone loves my boerie rolls. I am thankful. We are meeting new faces and making new friends all over Joburg now,” Joseph says.
“Business has increased so much. We have so many events after being featured on Good Things Guy. We are very lucky,” he explains.
We caught up with Joseph and Claire Scott-Rodger, who now helps manage his event bookings, to see just how much has changed since October. Claire was the person who first shared Joseph’s story with us, after learning that he had been walking from Diepsloot to Waterfall every day to get to work. That moment of concern turned into action, and eventually into a custom-built BoerieBike designed by her husband, Warwick, giving Joseph the chance to become a business owner.
One of Claire’s favourite moments came shortly after the article went live. She had already shown Joseph the Good Things Guy story, but one of his customers stopped on the side of the road, where he parks his Boeriebike, so they could listen to the 947 radio feature together.
“Joseph had nine VERY big events in the last two weeks of November and the first week of December. People have been coming to him and saying that they’ve heard about him, so he’s had a lot of new customers,” Claire explained to Good Things Guy.
The success has brought the kind of challenges most small business owners dream of. Demand is now so high that Joseph needs another bike, one for events and one to stay on the roadside serving his loyal regulars.
But the impact of BoerieBike goes beyond Joseph alone.
“We have also managed to help a man named Lucas, who inherited a little truck from his previous employers, to have some extra income. He helps transport Joseph to all his functions. Joseph’s sons have also started helping him out when things get busy. Through his little BoerieBike, he has helped three other people earn extra income.”
And then there’s the community, the same community that has quietly, consistently shown up for Joseph.
Recently, while loading his bike onto a bakkie, Joseph fell backwards and smashed his phone screen, which was in his back pocket. Claire sent a message to their local Magaliessig WhatsApp group. By the next morning, a couple arrived and dropped off a phone for him.
“The community has shown such kindness and love towards him and I am eternally grateful,” Claire says.
When asked how his life has changed and what other South Africans could take from his journey, Joseph’s answer is simple and honest.
“South Africa is a hard place. And every day is a struggle. But every day is a hustle day. We need to work hard. Even when it rains. We must show up. That’s how we become successful.”
Joseph is doing exactly that.
Showing up. Every morning. Every event. Every customer.
And his story is a beautiful reminder that effort still matters, that kindness multiplies, and that when someone is given a chance and meets it with everything they have, real growth follows.
From one bike on the side of the road to a booming small business creating opportunities for others, Joseph’s journey continues to gain momentum. And if the last few months are anything to go by, this is only the start of what’s possible.
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