26 Aug 2015

There is a belief that someone’s course in life is influenced by their surroundings and circumstances. Such is the case for Lobatse’s own Mr Tabona Sesinyi. 

Growing up, he has nurtured his love for leatherwork as he witnessed people around him working with leather making different items like shoes, belts, bags and others.

Prior to finding his passion for leatherwork, Mr Sesinyi the owner of ‘T Bone and Sons,said he has tried his hands in other things such as car wash, polishing shoes and pest control.

“I tried out those other jobs because I was trying to find my place in the world. So I ended up going to RIIC in Kanye to sharpen my skills and learn more about leatherwork,” he said. 

After finishing school, he started working with leather and producing different items but using his own hands and no machines.  That was approximately six years ago.

In 2014 between September and October, Mr Sesinyi applied for the youth grant offered by the government for young entrepreneurs. By the end of the year, he had his reply and was granted the necessary finances to make his dream of using machines come true. 

He highlighted that the winter season has proved to be a challenge in his business because not many people make purchases. 

“Batho ka bontsi ba a sitwa ka mariga, ba itswalela ka matlo,” he noted. However, this has not deterred this Bandleng man who currently manufactures shoes (grasshoppers) in different forms in order to try to make a bid to the town council so that he supplies them with school shoes for the needy and orphaned children.

“I am doing everything I can in order to leave a legacy for my children so that when they grow older they just build onto what I have already started’’, Mr Sesinyi said. Ends