By Everson Luhanga
- Patrick and his wife collect locusts at night from nearby farms and sell packets for R25 to motorists daily.
- On good days they make between R2,000 and R3,000, helping them survive rising food prices and job shortages.
Patrick stands next to the R36 in Mokgoloboto every day with packets of locusts. Cars slow down. Some drivers hoot and pull over. Many already know him.
He works with his wife. At night they go to nearby farms to collect the insects. During the day they sell them to passing motorists.
Each packet costs R25. On a good day Patrick makes between R2,000 and R3,000. He says the business helps his family survive in a time when jobs are scarce and food prices keep rising.
Many drivers travelling on the R36 stop often. Some buy after work almost every day.
One motorist told Tzaneen Voice he prefers locusts to meat.
“It’s better than eating a braai pack. I wish this was not a seasonal food. I don’t mind buying them every day because they are healthy,” he said.
Locusts are a popular delicacy in parts of Limpopo. While farmers worry about the damage they cause to crops, roadside traders see an opportunity to earn an income.
For Patrick, the flying insects mean more than a snack. They are a way to put food on the table and keep money coming in during hard times.
As long as the season lasts and motorists keep stopping, his small roadside stall continues to bring in cash for his household.
Pictured above: Patrick sells packets of locusts for R25 along the R36 in Mokgoloboto to support his family.
Image source: Tzaneen Voice
