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Tebogo Mosweu looks to grow Ditebogo Gifts

Tebogo Mosweu of Ditebogo Gifts is a hardworking woman who believes the spoils of the township economy must be shared with others.

Founder and director of Ditebogo Gifts Tebogo Mosweu, who plies her trade in a container on one of Alex’s busiest streets, believes her business will go a long way in the upliftment of the township economy and the well-being of its residents.

Divisional director of operations at Cashbuild Mimi Masala, Cahsbuild Alexandra store manager Itumeleng Makgoale, stall owner Tebogo Mosweu of Ditebogo Gifts, accounts manager and builders of the container stall from their Container Structures factory in City Deep Sisonke Khoza and Cashbuild CSI administrator Tiyani Makhamisi at the ribbon cutting. Photo: Sipho Siso

Speaking in an interview with Alex News, Mosweu said that she started off her business in 2022 in a store inside the Alex Plaza Shopping Centre but was hard-hit by high overhead costs, and decided to move back home to 36 1st Avenue Wynberg in Alexandra.

Founder and director of Ditebogo Gifts in Alexandra Tebogo Mosweu stands next to the gifts she sells. Photo: Sipho Siso

“I traded from home for a couple of months from May last year and even made more sales than we did in the shopping centre but because of another project I also ran from the house, we were now overwhelmed, and I needed to find another space to trade,” Mosweu said.Mosweu decided to put up a container store in front of the family home on 1st Avenue directly opposite the entrance to the shopping centre on one of the busiest streets in the township, with a constant flow of local taxis and human traffic to the centre and a nearby Boxer Store.

Founder and director of Ditebogo Gifts in Alexandra Tebogo Mosweu stands next to her products. Photo: Sipho Siso

But hamstrung by finances for the container, Mosweu approached Cashbuild with a proposal for them to finance the make-up and erection of a container store which she said was well-received.

Some of the staff members of Ditebo Gifts in Alexandra. Photo: Sipho Siso

“I then gave them the specs of the container and the rest is history. They officially opened the container store on January 18. I am so greatly indebted to them for coming to my rescue. They made me feel like one of their own and I will forever cherish the gesture,” she said.
Mosweu also thanked the people of Alexandra for their support during the difficult times when she ran the shop from the family home and promised them more job opportunities when business picked up.

She already has three youths in her employ and another street vendor who helps us here and there when business is hectic and ‘she manages to scrape together a living off us as well’. She hopes the stall will also attract tourists as well and that would be a plus for Alex’s tourism ambitions.

“I am a businessperson who believes the economic benefits of the township must be shared among us all and no one should be left behind. I have also offered a portion of the container space to a woman who does hair who also helps us each time I need extra hands,” Mosweu said.

Mosweu sells flowers, various gifting artefacts, ornaments, and historical items such as pictures of leaders of various anti-apartheid movements such as Chief Albert Luthuli, Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, and so forth.

Related Article: The 13th Avenue community of Alex joins hands to beautify their street

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