Repairing shoes is not just a job for Michael Chauke and George Tshabane, but their livelihood.
They are owners of Nu-Kraft Shoe Repairs in Main Street, Rosetteville. According to them, the shop is more than 40 years old.
Michael started working there in 1990 and George followed thereafter.
“Paul Kruger and his partners were the original owners of the Nu-Kraft Shoe Repairs until they handed it over to us in 1998. We have since held on to it. There were ups and downs during our tenure especially during lockdown; however, through faith and dedication we are still thriving,” explained Michael.
“We learned a lot from our bosses, they didn’t only teach us how to repair shoes and bags, but they also taught us business management and bookkeeping,” said George.
The pair shared memories of working with Paul Kruger. They said there were interesting moments, like when a pensioner came for shoe repairs only to find out it would be done for free.
Or when people brought their shoes and never collected them, even though they paid for the service.
They are proud of their clientele, which spans from the South to Midrand.
“We repair any kind of shoes, such as bikers, roller skates, golf shoes and bags. As we speak, we have a golf shoe that belongs to the brother of former goalkeeper of Liverpool Bruce Grobbelaar in store. We take our job seriously and hence the longevity of the business,” added George.