BY THABO MONYELA
RELELA VILLAGE -Sunnyboy Nhlamini, was forced by the hardships of poverty to start selling fruit and vegetables at Relela village zone F in Bolobedu. Nhlamini started selling at the age of 15 ,the situation led him to quit school in grade 10.
After 5 years of running the business, he got employed by CB stores in Tzaneen for 8 years and then quit his job to focus fully on his business.
“I enjoyed working there but the vision I had for my business didn’t allow me to continue working there, but it felt like my business didn’t do well when someone is selling on my behalf,” he explained.
“Relela Food Lovers” has been serving the Relela Community and surrounding villages for over 20 years and the people continue to support his affordable fresh fruit and vegetables.
“I am supplying to most of the funerals, community events, and weddings with fruits and vegetables almost every weekend. My business is supplied by local farmers and mainly by the ZZ2,” he said.
Meanwhile, through his business, he was able to study Project management certificate from 2018 to 2019. He is also an Avon products distributor.
The outbreak of the Coronavirus has affected his business because of the restrictions imposed that did not allow the street vendors to operate for months, however since they have been ease of these restrictions, his business has now recovered and is currently doing well.
Relela Food Lovers owner further mentioned that at the pace at which his business is operating, he doesn’t see himself working for someone ever again and his wish is to distribute to all events in and around his surrounding communities and other prestigious retail stores around Tzaneen. He says his ultimate goal is to establish a big retail store that will sell all the fruits and vegetables.
“I would like to advise all the young people who are unemployed to consider being street vendors ” he concluded.
