Mabutsane Entrepreneurs Strive In Waste Businesses
Lebogang Baingapi | Monday August 28, 2017 18:00
One of them is Kegaisamang Dithobane of Mahotshwane settlement that is known for picking any litter that she comes across to make money. She does plastic pillows, hats, skirts and blouses, as well as mats.
She was inspired by her parents to do handiwork, but most importantly she developed vast interest in turning waste into cash. Dithobane has been to the lowest when business went down and she lost in competitions. However, she did not give up.
She strived to be the best and came up with unique designs to beat the market and compete on market days.“I don’t have a full time job and this remains my only source of income. I always think outside the box to come up with new improved designs to attract more customers,” said Dithobane.
Though she is known as the waste lady, she also weaves scarfs and wool messes which he then sells them her customers.
Her wish is to also start non-formal education to learn reading and writing and also attend some life skills courses to improve her business. Dithobane, 47, is an entrepreneur at heart who is not limited by the terrain of the road that leads to her settlement of Mahotshwane. She has rather established a stable market from the small population.
She was aided by the poverty eradication programme to continue her business and her passion and story of resilience has been an inspiration to fellow residents who continue to show interest and demonstrate skills in different projects. Another success story is of Mogolegi Maipolelo of Itholoke settlement.
The man’s disability did not hinder him to explore his skill and talent to make a living. He designs different types of hats using mealie meal sacks. He also uses excerpts from doorframes to create steel bucket holders as well as leather works.
He was trained at Maun Technical College to acquire different skills and make a living. Maipolelo was born without a disability, which he acquired in a later stage of his life due a minor stroke which left him unable to walk properly. Through it all, Maipolelo is a true testimony that disability is not inability. He has been able to put food on the table for his family using waste.
Though he is from Mahotshwane, he relocated to Itholoke to meet new clients.