Popular newspaper vendor celebrates his birthday on Silver Pine in Malanshof
MALANSHOF – Well-known newspaper vendor celebrates his birthday with love from his community.
Motorists shared the love with well-known newspaper vendor William Masango on his birthday on 14 September.
Masango is hugely popular with anyone that drives through the busy Silver Pine Avenue and Republic Road intersection in Malanshof.
One would find it difficult to not find their mornings made brighter by his smile as he chats with passing motorists on their daily commute.
Every year, Masango plans his birthday celebrations in advance by pinning a poster to his bib to remind the community that his birthday is around the corner.
He has been selling at the same intersection for about eight years.
“I love my community, I have so many friends who I talk to every morning in their cars. I love chatting with them and smiling every day,” he laughed.
The community loves him too, as 14 September rolls around, his newspaper corner is packed with birthday presents from motorists.
From tins of biscuits, chocolates, bread, and other grocery items, he is also given kitchenware gifts and clothes.
The gifts are wrapped in beautiful paper, ribbons and of course balloons.
He is truly cared for as motorists who forgot about his special day are visibly upset and promise to give his belated birthday present the next time they see him.
A motorist, David Mphumba said, “He is my friend, we talk every morning about the soccer and the weather. Happy birthday William.”
When asked how he would transport his large amount of presents home he said, “A nice lady said she would come later on in the morning with her car to help me take them home.”
Local Malanshof resident Nancy Mawdsley said, “He is a lovely guy. Come freezing cold weather or bright skies he always has a smile on his face. It such a pleasure to know that when I drive past him in the morning, he is able to make my day brighter.”
Masango supports four children, three girls and one boy. He arrives at the intersection by taxi at 5am during the week and only knocks off at 10.30am.
Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood said, “He is very popular within the community, in fact, he is a part of our community.
He is always smiling and chatting away. It is wonderful to see a service provider with a positive attitude that is infectious towards others.”
With tears in his eyes and beads of sweat dripping down his forehead from his exciting birthday morning, Masango said, “Thank you to the community and each person who helped me feel special on my birthday. Thank you for the gifts and the love they gave me. I will see all of you again.”
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