BOPHELONG – From loitering at foreign national stores and kasi corners to running small businesses.
This is a testimonial of what the people of Bophelong have been fighting for and gradually seem to achieve.
Following several series of clashes between residents and foreign national shop owners in the name of reclaiming kasi economy, the grass seems greener on the other side.
Sedibeng Ster visited the small tight-knit community in an attempt to follow up on several shops opened by South African citizens.
In its quest, the Ster team met a couple of young entrepreneurs who had started running their own businesses when the foreign nationals vacated shops.
The moving story of Boitumelo Makhalanyane (27) and Mpho Tlhole (24) touched us as the duo started running Hot Dogs Tsa Strata, a business of selling and delivering hotdogs in and around Bophelong.
With only R350, the couple managed to buy rolls, sausage, and charcoal to begin operations.
“We always had the idea but never really implemented it. When we learned that foreign shop owners were removed from our township, we then decided to take the opportunity and start the long-planned idea,” said Makhalanyane.
Tlhole said they started their business a week ago and they have been selling out their product.
“Since last week Thursday, we have been doing great and we continue to move up the ranks. We now buy twice the stock we started with and residents are supporting us,” he said.
The duo has improved their business and now delivers their hotdogs using a bicycle to customers who purchase from five hotdogs.
Another youngster, Mbulelo Mthimkhulu (23) who used to run a smoker’s tavern expanded his family business to a bigger tuck shop.
“We didn’t have much profit since we began running the shop three years ago. Since the removal of foreign shops, we have added some items. From cigarettes, now we also sell bread, milk, fruits, Grandpa, and other products used on a daily. I can safely say the profit margins are growing,” he said.
Mthimkhulu added that the push factor applied by residents in claiming back kasi economy helped many young people to turn into business people.
“We needed that push factor to hype us to start businesses. Normally you would find us loitering around shops, now we run those shops,” he said.
