Dream finally comes true for Alex man
Mashudu Cellphone Repairs has created 10 new jobs, bringing its tally of employees to 15.
A longstanding dream of having a roof above his head from which to conduct his business has finally come true for Amos Mashudu Sadiki of Alexandra.
After spending nearly 20 years of trading outside on the street pavements of the Pan Africa Square next to the popular Freedom Supermarket and being exposed to all the elements, Sadiki, a devout Christian, was at a loss for words to describe how he feels and what this means to him.
He could only murmur the words ‘I feel great and that ‘God is and will always be great’. Sadiki, of Mashudu Cellphone Repairs, which started trading on the pavements in 2003, moved into a cubicle-kind-of-shop in January this year.
Nick Obel of Citynet Properties in Norwood, who owns the property block that houses several stores on Watt Street in Wynberg, said Mashudu Cellphone Repairs’ move into a shop was part and parcel of an empowerment project for his longstanding friend.
Each time the two met, Obel said Sadiki would keep reminding him to honour his promise. “Sadiki would literally shed tears as he reminded me of the promise I made,” Obel said.
“I am happy as my tears were never in vain. Here I am today with a roof above my head from which to conduct my cellphone repair business,” said a visibly delighted Sadiki at his shop with buzzing customers.
Mashudu Cellphone Repairs is one of 10 other street vendors that Obel has empowered around his properties. He has taken them from trading under golf umbrellas to permanent structures he built, complete with concrete roofs and walls and roller windows used as service points for customers.
Mashudu Cellphone Repairs used to employ five people in the days it was trading on the streets but since it moved into the shop, it has created 10 new jobs, bringing its tally of employees to 15.
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