R’fontein’s own deaf-mute Willy Wonka

 A 49-year-old deaf-mute Randfonteiner has opened up shop to show the deaf community and the greater Randfontein that if one has the right attitude, anything is possible.

Christo Wienand’s shop, Deli Delicious is in Culemborg Park opposite the Frans du Toit Pharmacy.

Walking into the shop takes you back to your childhood. The first thing you smell is freshly baked sausage rolls and in every nook and cranny there are sweets; but not any sweets – those you ate in your childhood namely gummy pizzas, glazed lemon wedges and boiled sweets.

The shop does not cater only for those with a sweet tooth. There is something for everyone, even homemade biltong and exotic meats. Christo’s personality and presence in the shop is that of an older brother or perhaps a Willy Wonka. He is playful and mystical.

He was born deaf but said he has never wallowed in his hearing impediment. This former St Vincent School for the Deaf pupils uses very little sign language and prefers to speak to people while showing general signs they can understand. Furthermore, he can and prefers to lip read.

He is completely comfortable in his skin with a keen sense of humour; Christo is anything but shy. For as long as he can remember, he wanted his own shop and that dream finally has come true. The shop opened two weeks ago and business has been good. Christo had made all the shelving in the shop himself by using wooden pallets.

His shop can be regarded as a beacon of hope to those who have hearing impediments and also those with other forms of disabilities.

His talents are not limited to business and carpentry, he also is quite the dancer. He explained that he might not be able to hear the music but he can feel the vibrations of the sound through his feet.

To the deaf community he said,

There is hope. Your mind must be positive. Having the right attitude can help.”