SIDOU – “Although my fellow community members regard me as a laughing stock, I am happy because I am able to supplement my old age grant with ease.”

This is a unique and courageous message of hope from an inspirational, hardworking granny, Phophi Ramuima (70), of Sidou village, East of Thohoyandou, who supplements her old-age grant money by gathering and selling termites (madzhulu).

“We need to stand up and do something to upgrade our lives, regardless of our ages. People are only lazy to come up with plans that can improve their daily lives. I swallowed my pride and do this odd job which many people regard as primitive and outdated.”

Phophi risks her life by going into the thick bushes with her hand hoe and banana tree threads to perform her duties on a daily basis. She can easily recognize the anthills where she can coax out the termites with her banana tree thread.

She explains how she does it: “I use my hand hoe to dig the anthills. Termites are very foolish insects which one can easily trap out of the ground. I will then insert the banana thread into the ground and the termites will think that they have been attacked by an enemy. They will then attack the banana thread and at the same time I will be lifting it out with lots of them sticking to the thread. It is important to work carefully because termites are very aggressive and at times I encounter some injuries due to their bites. I will go home and roast them halfway and deliciously so that my customers will be able to prepare them according to their desire.”

Phophi says she can fill a 5l container of termites per day, which she sells for R60.

“I can sell approximately 15l of termites per week. I also sell a small quantity with a beaker for R5. Most of my customers are my fellow elders at the local pension pay point. I encourage other elders to wake up and use their hands to generate some income. Pride will take them nowhere and laziness will only breed misery,” she concludes.