A Grade 10 school dropout is using his father’s donkeys to put some food on the table.

Because there is a serious transport problem, Mkateko Shibambu (20) of Gonani-Shikundu, outside Malamulele, carries groceries, firewood, water, sand and other goods, in this remote rural remote area for a fee. He also uses his donkey cart to travel to Malamulele and Saselemane towns to carry goods bought from the shops by his customers.

"I dropped out of school because of my family’s poor financial background, but I told myself that I would never engage myself in crime. I cannot go to bed on an empty stomach while there are other plans that I can make to generate some income. I vowed that I would be part of the solution of the transport problem in my village," he said.

Mkateko says things began to show some shape when he started his donkey cart initiative three years ago. "Both my parents are unemployed and all the 14 members of my family depend on the meagre income I make through this initiative. My brothers and sisters are attending school without any problem, because I’m generating an income on a daily basis. I have also provided my formerly unemployed friend, Tiyani Chauke, with a job, because he assists me in loading and offloading the goods. I pay him according to the profit generated per day. That is better than sitting at home and waiting for miracles to happen."

Mkateko says he charges a minimum of R50 per load, but his rates depend on the distance and the size of the load. "I can make up to R500 per week and this is enough to keep the family fire burning. Sometimes I also take the local learners to school and I charge them between R1 and R2 per single trip. I hope my initiative will encourage other unemployed community members to take matters upon themselves."