By Everson Luhanga
- Traders say they travel to Mozambique to buy cheaper clothes, shoes and hair, then resell them in South Africa to survive.
- The work is risky and unpredictable, but many say it is better than having no income at all.
With jobs hard to find and living costs climbing, many South Africans say they cannot afford to wait for work.
Instead, they are finding ways to earn through informal trading.
One trader said buying and selling clothes has become her main source of income. She sells second-hand clothes, shoes and handbags at local markets, using stock sourced outside the country.
She said Mozambique has become a key place for traders looking for cheaper goods.
“You can find clothes, sneakers, Brazilian hair and underwear bales at prices we cannot get here,” she said.
Traders say stock bought in Mozambique is resold at busy markets such as Dunusa, where customers look for affordable clothing.
Getting the stock is not simple.
Traders say they rely on Facebook groups to learn border rules, find trusted transport, and connect with people who understand local languages such as Shangaan and Portuguese.
“You have to learn who to trust,” the trader said. “If you get it wrong, you lose everything.”
She said some people keep supplier information private, while others charge to connect new traders to the right contacts.
The work comes with risks. Long travel, theft, border problems and unsold stock can quickly turn profit into debt.
But she said the alternative is worse.
“When there is no work, you must try something,” she said. “This is how I survive.”
Pictured above: Dunusa.
Image source: File
