By Buziwe Nocuze
- Nomathamsanqa Sangoni, 45, from Port St John’s in the Eastern Cape sells firewood bundles for R70 to feed her children as a single mother.
- She wakes at 5am to collect firewood but stays home when it rains because the wet wood cannot be used.
Nomathamsanqa Sangoni, a 45-year-old single mother from Port St John’s in the Eastern Cape, supports her children by selling bundles of firewood for R70.
She wakes at 5am to go to the forest to collect firewood.
“Being a single mother is difficult because you are not only thinking about yourself but also about your children. I am happy that they don’t go to bed hungry,” said Sangoni.
She said the job might look easy to other people but it is not easy because she has to look for proper firewood so customers don’t complain.
“I don’t go to the forest if it is raining because the firewood is wet and no one can use them in that state,” said Sangoni.
Before starting the business, she asked people if they would support her. One woman told her they need firewood because electricity is too expensive.
“One of the ladies in my area said they need firewood because electricity is too high, they now cook most of their meals using the firewood they buy from me,” said Sangoni.
People who are having ceremonies also buy firewood from her, including bundles of big wood. She said she is happy for the support because she can now sleep peacefully at night knowing her children have food.
“As a parent the priority is your kids and you do anything to make sure that they have food,” said Sangoni.
She sometimes collects firewood even when she doesn’t have customers and stores it at home. When customers want firewood, she delivers the bundles to their yards.
“For now, I am buying the basics. When I get something better than this I will be able to spoil my kids and I like them because they understand my situation,” said Sangoni.
Pictured above: Firewood.
Image source: Pexels
