Rolling Stoner Sessions with Lekker Leaf
Growing Medicine, Community, and Culture One Leaf At A Time.
Interviewer and writer: Andrew Macfarlane
In the beating heart of Wynberg (or 199 Main Rd, Wynberg) is a destination where it’s all about embracing, educating and reconnecting locals with the power of natural medicine or a Lekker Leaf (or leaves).
At its heart, Lekker Leaf is about bringing medicine to people, one leaf at a time. While many may assume the leaf in question is cannabis, the simple fact is that many natural, leaf-based medicines have been used for centuries.
For owner and founder Fatima, that connection to natural medicine is also deeply personal. As a Capetonian of Indo-Malay descent, she has had her understanding of healing shaped by culture, community, herbs, spices, and traditional remedies passed down through generations.
“I’ve always wanted to bring medicine closer to the community, which is why our slogan is ‘Growing the community one leaf at a time.’ Lekker Leaf is not just about cannabis. It is rooted in traditional medicine, herbs, spices, and the Cape Town culture I come from,” says Fatima.
Lekker Leaf’s journey began with selling traditional medicine and exploring the possibilities of natural healing. That journey paused when her grandmother became ill, but the calling never disappeared.
Over time, this interest in natural healing grew stronger, especially after seeing cannabis used in her own family.
“My view of cannabis changed when my grandmother, who had stage four cancer, used it to help ease her pain and support her appetite. Seeing that within my own family helped me understand the plant differently. It was not just something surrounded by stigma. It was something that could bring comfort, relief and dignity,” says Fatima.
Changing The Cannabis Narrative
One of Lekker Leaf’s main goals is to help shift the conversation around cannabis.
As many in the industry can attest, cannabis is still dealing with the stigma associated with smoking, secrecy, or social judgement.
Lekker Leaf wants to show another side of the plant: one linked to wellness, dignity, education, and responsible use.
“I want people to walk into our space and feel that cannabis can be approached with dignity, care and refinement.
We are rooted in Wynberg and in our community, but we also want to share an authentic lekker Cape Town experience with people who are looking for something meaningful, natural and unique,” says Fatima.
A Female-Led Voice In A Male-Dominated Industry
There’s no denying that the budding cannabis industry is still largely male-dominated.
While for many this could be seen as a barrier to the market, Lekker Leaf’s owner sees it as an opportunity for female entrepreneurs.
“Female-owned establishments bring something different to the table. There is a softer, more nurturing and refined energy that can help people feel more comfortable with the plant.
For me, it is about balance. The female cannabis plant produces the flower, so women should also have a strong voice in shaping the culture around it,” says Fatima.
It’s hard to ignore the simple fact that it’s the female cannabis plant that produces the flower.
However, Lekker Leaf’s owner does not see this as a question of women replacing men. Instead, she believes the strongest future for cannabis will come from balance.
Logic and emotion, structure and care, male and female perspectives all have a place in the developing industry.
Natural Wellness, Mushrooms, and Adaptogens
As mentioned, the brand’s name was inspired by the idea that there are many lekker leaves that locals have benefited from for centuries.
“I’ve always been interested in natural remedies and how plants can support people in different ways. It is not about saying one path replaces another. It is about understanding what nature offers and how those options can work alongside a more informed wellness journey,” says Fatima.
That interest also extends to families who begin exploring cannabis oil after feeling that conventional pharmaceutical routes have not given them the results they hoped for.
“A lot of families come to natural medicine because they are looking for gentler options. Sometimes people feel stuck in a cycle where one medication creates another problem, and then another medication is added for that. I think that is where plant-based approaches can offer people another conversation, as long as it is done responsibly and with proper education,” says Fatima.
Lekker Leaf is about creating a space where people can explore natural remedies with care, context and guidance.
“I respect modern medicine, but I also believe there is space for traditional medicine and plant-based healing. My goal is to keep learning, to continue my studies, and to help develop natural alternatives that are responsible, informed and rooted in wellness,” says Fatima.
Rooted In Wynberg And Cape Town Culture
As the name strongly indicates, Lekker Leaf’s identity is closely tied to Cape Town.
Based in Wynberg, the brand is rooted in an area with deep cultural history, especially within the coloured community, where family, faith, food and tradition remain central to everyday life. For Lekker Leaf’s owner, that local foundation matters because Lekker Leaf is not trying to become a generic cannabis brand. It wants to carry the texture of the place it comes from.
“Cape Town has its own flavour. It is in the way people speak, the way we laugh, the food we grew up with, and the traditions we carry from our families. Lekker Leaf comes from that. It comes from my community, my culture and the way I understand healing,” says Fatima.
Cape Town itself is shaped by many influences, each adding something distinct to the city’s identity. You can feel that blend in the everyday rituals of neighbourhood corner shops, where the fragrance of the spice aisle tells its own story. These are simple, natural lekker smells that have long supported healthy homes, hearty meals, and communities across the city.
“When I think about Cape Town, I think about all those small things that stay with you. The food, the street corners, the smells, the humour, the way people greet each other. Those things are part of who I am, and they are also part of Lekker Leaf,” says Fatima.
This cultural backdrop is central to the brand’s personality. Lekker Leaf is refined and wellness-led, but it is also proudly local, grounded and human.
“I do not want Lekker Leaf to feel like a brand that could be from anywhere. I want people to feel Cape Town in it. I want them to feel the community, the heritage, the warmth and the natural medicine traditions that shaped me,” says Fatima.
That comment reveals something important about the direction of the market.
Cannabis tourism is no longer only about cannabis consumers finding cannabis products.
It is becoming part of a wider travel lifestyle that includes accommodation, hospitality, local recommendations, curated experiences and trusted venues.
Why Lekker Leaf Belongs On The Route 420 Journey
Lekker Leaf’s place within the Route 420 journey is not simply about cannabis. It is about the wider story the space tells.
Route 420 exists to connect travellers with authenticated cannabis-related experiences.
Lekker Leaf fits that vision because it brings together Cape Town heritage, natural medicine, female leadership, community education and a more thoughtful approach to the plant.
For tourists exploring South Africa’s emerging cannabis culture, Lekker Leaf offers something grounded and human.
Lekker Leaf adds its own Cape Town chapter to that journey. Rooted in Wynberg and shaped by Fatima’s Indo-Malay heritage, the brand reflects a softer, smarter and more meaningful cannabis conversation.
It shows how cannabis can sit alongside traditional medicine, responsible use, education and dignity.