BOPHELONG – Three local youngsters from Bophelong have used the blows dealt by the lack of unemployment in the Vaal to open a business that caters to all sneaker lovers.
Godfrey Songwane and two colleagues are the driving force of a small business aimed at taking the laborious task of cleaning one’s much-loved kicks.
Charging R30 for all-white sneakers, and R25 for any other design, the trio pushes their day by delicately revamping five sneakers per day.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Songwane said the plan to commence the business was born a year ago, but has been running for a few months now.
“The plannery of the business was always there but the implementation is recent. We started the business three months ago as a way to put bread on the table. With just a soap and scrubbing brush and making enough to buy proper detergents to push the business, that’s how the idea was born. We decided on this business because everyone wears sneakers in our community,” he said.
Born and bred in Sebokeng but later moving to Bophelong, Songwane said they plan to expand the business in and around Gauteng.
“We want to see this business grow into a big sneaker cleaning company branching out into places like Braamfontein and Cape because that’s where sneaker lovers live.”
When asked about their motivation to keep on, Songwane said working with his friends is a motivation to keep the business striving.
“Each day having to wake up and come to the corner to push what we love is really a motivation for us to continue pushing. One may see this corner bump hang out and think it’s no good, but we actually working on bigger plans,” he said.
While many young people remain unemployed and choose jobs according to standards, Songwane said excuses are for lazy people.
“People are too lazy to start their own businesses, instead they will give you excuses.
This might be seen as a lame job for many people, but it definitely put bread on the table. Our young people should grab an opportunity where there seem to be none, push their passion in order to alleviate poverty, and stay away from crime,” he said.
