Determination sees farm worker become an entrepreneur
Godfrey took a great risk quitting his job but it paid off in the end
TZANEEN – Although father of six, Godfrey Ramaselele, had to quit school in Grade 6 to take up work on a farm, he vowed not to let his situation determine his future.
The now 56-year-old from Modupa village near Tzaneen has come a long long.
He decided to turn his life around and embarked on a journey of entrepreneurship. Today, he runs one of the oldest radio and television repair shops in the centre of Tzaneen. He opened his business in 1983.
“I was recently offered a job by a well-known television repair company. They offered to pay me R5 000 a month. I turned down the offer as I make more money working for myself,” said the owner of Rams Radio and Television repair shop.
Godfrey’s journey of becoming a master of his own fate began when he decided to quit his job on the farm.
“Being uneducated and working in the farms is very painful. I worked hard for very low wages. I was not happy with my life.
“After quitting the job, I was lucky to meet a white man who taught me how to repair radios and televisions. I worked with him for three years and then decided to open my own repair shop,” he said.
“I grew my business through word of mouth. Today, many people support me and I am very grateful,” he said.
Godfrey fixes radios, televisions, DVDs and other electrical household items. He has two full-time assistants and owns two bakkies which he use to collect and deliver the goods.
He said his business survived for 34 years through hard work, dedication, perseverance and good customer care.
“Some of my customers are victims of Eskom power outages. Since it was not their fault, I always give them discount,” he said.
Godfrey advises unemployed people in the community to not wait for government handouts but instead start their own businesses by identifying gaps in the community.
“People must stop following the crowd. One of the mistakes our people make is that when one person starts a car wash, they all start car-wash businesses. When another person open a chicken-dust, they all want to open chicken-dust businesses. By starting the same businesses, you are increasing competition. People must learn to be unique and original,” he concluded.
capvoice@nmgroup.co.za
