Colourful Sebe remains confident of economic revival
She says she and other vendors who trade alongside her would appreciate more assistance from the municipality.
Sebe Shelembe is a bright young spark who, for the past four years, has been selling traditional bead-work and other attire from her stall she calls Bhinca Swag in the narrow lane between King Edward and Willson Street. She says it was hard not being allowed to trade during the lockdown, but with her broad smile and entrepreneurial spirit, she is confident of better days ahead.
Her colourful stall automatically forces passersby to stop and admire her selection of Ndebele and Zulu bead-work. The Ndebele beads are outsourced, but the Zulu work is done by Sebe.
“Besides retailing, I also hire out the beads and other attire for traditional weddings, 21sts, etc. People really enjoy dressing up traditionally on special occasions.”
She says she and other vendors who trade alongside her would appreciate more assistance from the municipality. “It would be great if they could supply us with containers which we could rent. This would make trading easier and probably more hygienic.”
She said she has no choice but to continue selling her beads, perfumes and now customised face masks produced by a friend, Nonkululeko Phungula.
“We can also put the school’s emblem or the learner’s name on the mask. This is one way not to let this crisis get us down, but to survive it.” Sebe is also teaching women to do bead-work from home.
Once tourists are allowed to enjoy leisure travel again, she hopes that visitors will be drawn to her stall and be enthralled enough by the bead-work to buy and take them home. Anyone wanting more information can call Sebe on 074-320-0701.
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