COWHIDE seller Godwin Awuegugeaghan relies on his cowhide business to support his four children.
The 56-year-old single father from Booysens informal settlement relies on his business to support his boys. He collects cowhide from different farms that don’t use it and then burns it in order to dry out. He then sells it to shoe repairers, traditional healers, local residents and taxi drivers. Cowhide is used for various uses, like clothing, muti, washing cloth and more.
The money he generates from the sales he uses to buy groceries and clothes for his children. He claims he used to have a registered business, but all his documents were burnt during a fire. He tried getting a job, but was unsuccessful, so he opted for selling cowhide.
Awuegugeahan told COURIER the love he has for his boys is unconditional, every cent he makes benefits only his sons.
“Every resident in the settlement knows how much I love my boys. This business has helped me support my family. I wake up every morning and collect the skins. I sell it for R30 each and people do buy it,” said Awuegugeahan.
He makes R100 or R150 a day.
He wants his children to study hard and not emulate him.
“I do all of this to see to it that they get to eat and go to school. Their mother comes to visit occasionally,” he said.
Awuegugeagan lives in a two-roomed shack with his children, but wants to get a proper place. He believes his children will take him out of his misery when they are academically advanced in life.
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