MANGONDI – Ms Modjadji Sibanda (64) has never been employed, but she managed to raise her eight kids with the little income she generated from making Makunda (thin Venda traditional arm or foot bracelets made by twisting thin wires tightly).

Modjadji, who lives at Mangondi-Jim Kone Village, east of Thohoyandou, said after the death of her husband, James, she had to stand on her own because there was no one she could rely upon. Five of her kids are independent and she is still taking care of the three who are still at school. She encourages other unemployed single parents to use their skills to support their families.

“People say there are no jobs, but they are the ones who can provide themselves with jobs. Why suffer when you have able hands and legs? We need to do something for ourselves to improve our own lives,” she said.

Her reputation has grown to the extent that her customers include oversees tourists, national television celebrities and high-profile members of the local community.

She said she was taught to make Makunda by her late mother, Nyanisi, but she never thought the trick would put some food on her table at long last. She now travels to central Thohoyandou on a daily basis where she makes and sells her Makunda.

“I decided to come to town because there is more exposure than in my rural village. Besides that, I meet different customers on a daily basis and this encourages me to work hard to satisfy their needs.”

“I buy thin silver and black wire (tsimbi ya lutomola) from the local manufacturers. I then roll them together on a wooden surface, using the old horn of a buck. I can make up to 100 Makundaa day, but my production depends on orders. It is not an easy job because sometimes I sustain injuries to my fingers. But I will never give up because this is the only job that I enjoy.”

She says her the price starts from R1 to R4,50, depending on the size desired by the customers. “I make the bigger ones and the small ones called Thuthu and Magidimpho. I can make about R100 per day, but on bad days I can go home empty handed.”

She concluded by urging community members to preserve their cultural attire for the benefit of future generations. “Makundais part of the Venda traditional attire and I encourage people to put them on to show their real identity. We must not be ashamed to put on what is ours because there is no other nation who will promote our culture. To those who still say there are no jobs, they have to think twice because they have the ability to become their own bosses. Success is based on a positive attitude and hard work.”