While many parents are complaining about their problem children, Ndidzulafhi “Tikinana” Maduma is more than a blessing to his parents.

At the age of 18, Tikinana, is not only regarded highly by his parents, but he is a source of motivation to other youths in his rural village of Mukula, because of his amazing talent of creating housing structures and complexes from card boxes.

Tikinana, as he is well-known in the area, can also draw up house plans. Although he never formally studied these skills, none of his plans have failed when they were assessed by the municipal officers.

Although he is still doing grade 12 at Gumani Technical School at Matatshe, Tikinana does not have financial problems as he is making good money by charging between R300 and R600 to his clients. “I started drawing in grade I, while I was still attending Takalani primary, here at Mukula. I used to draw people with pencil and later with paints. My classmates and teachers liked my drawings, which encouraged me, although I got some lashings in the process,” says Tikinana.

At the age of eight, Tikinana was excelling at his art. “I started to draw house plans on my school books. From there, people, including my teachers, asked me to draw house plans for them, which I did. That’s when I started making money that I used to finance my studies and buying myself clothes,” says Tikinana, number two in a family of six children.

His unemployed mother, Joyce, says: “We are proud of this boy because he sometimes helps us to support the family through his talent.”

Joyce says she is praying that her son does not engage in alcohol and substance abuse, as it will completely change his life. Tikinana says: “I will never take liquor or any drug because I have seen what it can through my peers.” His main concern is to get funding for his tertiary education, where he wants to continue with drawing.