For 18 years – shoes buttered Samuel’s bread on both sides

There isn’t any accessory he cannot mend – be it your bags, shoes, belt, Samuel Molepo is quite an expert. Every week, the 75-year-old sits at the corner of Kingfisher and Robin Drive just opposite Fourways High with his van not far from him – to do what he does best – fixing shoes.

For 18 years now Molepo has left many residents in Fourways leaving his little corner business with broad smiles but not only because their accessories are as good as new – and the fact that he also wears his heart on his sleeves.

Speaking to Fourways Review, Molepo told us started his shoe business in 1994. He said just like many in the city, he came to Johannesburg all the way from Limpopo to seek opportunities.

“There was once a time in 1959, I do not remember quite well, but there was someone who taught us how to repair shoes. We were in town [Johannesburg] at the time. Since then, I never looked back. What I love about it is that I get to deal with different customers every day with different problems. I have been doing it for almost a decade now. I think what people love about my services is that I interact with them a lot.”

That is why one of his happy customers, Paige Aeron Wynberger could not stop bragging about his services in the community group chat online, “He is so talented. He has now fixed two pairs of shoes for me, and I will definitely be going back for others that need fixing. Please do support him. I wanted to share his story with the community so that they can support him.”

Many of the residents flocked to the comment section to share their experiences with his Molepo. He tells us he does not plan to leave his first love anytime soon and hopes to do it for many more years.

“I live in Cosmo City but every morning I come here in Fourways to do my business something that I dearly love so much because it puts bread on the table as well.”

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