By Nkhensani Mthombeni
- Hastings Amigu sells his woven furniture and plant baskets to drivers passing by Mini Tzani Park in Tzaneen, Limpopo province.
- He misses his two children in Malawi but stays in South Africa because selling his weaving helps him feed them.
Hastings Amigu misses his family in Malawi every day. He lives far away from his two children, but says the pain is worth it because he can feed them.
Amigu has lived in Tzaneen in Limpopo for the past 15 years. He makes money by weaving chairs, baskets and lamp stands.
He sets up his roadside shop next to Mini Tzani Park. Many drivers pass by the park and buy his goods.
He gets his materials from the bush. He cuts the plants, leaves them to dry, and then starts weaving.
His grandmother taught him and his siblings how to weave when they were young. She still uses the skill to survive today.
When Amigu first came to South Africa, he wanted to help his brother. He found a job in a shop but soon left.
“I worked at a store for a while, but I soon realised that it was not for me,” he said.
He remembered his weaving skills and started selling door to door. At first, it was very hard.
Some people thought he was a thief when he knocked on their doors. Slowly, the locals began to trust him.
He sells his plant baskets for R750 for a set of three.
Business was very tough during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Kind customers bought his work just so he could eat.
Sales picked up after the pandemic. But for the past two years, people have had less money to spend.
To find new buyers, Amigu now sells at flea markets and family events.
“My dream is to import some of my items overseas and to have a retail store,” he said.
Amigu says he will only move back to Malawi if he can find a steady job to feed his family.
Pictured above: Hastings Amigu holding some of the items he sells.
Image source: Nkhensani Mthombeni
