24 Jun 2020

Mr Lekoko Kgathang, 56, of Paje in Serowe North constituency believes that an expectant mind is a powerful mind.

Mr Kgathang, popularly known as LK, owns a welding business he started in 2017 in Dimajwe. This was after he left work as a night watchman at Sekgoma hospital in Serowe. 

He made the decision to leave the job he started in 2002 when the hospital outsourced security services and was reassigned to work as a cleaner, a task, he said, was for women.

Speaking in an interview recently, Mr Kgathang said his life was cluttered with hurdles. “I lost hope after losing my job in 2017,” stated Mr Kgothang.

He said his next calling was welding and farming after parting ways with the hospital.

“I have had a passion for welding from an early age,” he said.

Mr Kgathang started his home-based welding business with the few machinery he bought while still employed. 

He has no qualification in welding and relies on the skills he acquired over the years. 

“My uncle introduced me to welding when we lived together. What started as a passion now puts food on my table,” stated Mr Kgathang.

His area of specialty is making and mending donkey carts, tuck-shop structures, burglar bars, bull racks and cattle branding apparatus among other products.

Although he appreciated the importance of advertising, Mr Kgathang depends largely on word of mouth to market his business.

He said late payments by some customers was a challenge to his business which he dreams of expanding beyond Dimajwe. 

Mr Kgathang said he did not seek any financial aid from any institution or government because the money he saved while working was what he used to buy machinery.

He appreciated his community for supporting him and encouraged the youth to self employ.

He said the outbreak of COVID-19 put a damper on his business though there was plenty of work for him. Ends