27 Jan 2021

While his peers are complaining about lack of employment and the requisite work experience thereof on every job advertisement, Mr Lesego Phaganyane (42) is fascinated by his newly acquired skill and craze, modification of vehicles.

Indeed tough times breeds great ideas and men alike. The thought of modifying vehicles sprang to mind during the COVID-19 lockdown.

He was home pondering about his future because he had just lost his job when suddenly the thought of transforming his Volks Wagon (VW) Golf 4 into a van visited him.

He wanted to traverse the hustle route and the only car he had was not compatible to carry stuff around to eke out a living.

Mr Phaganyane, who also does mechanics, welding and fabrication, said his works had since sparked a lot of interest from people who wanted to modify their vehicles.

A Tati Siding resident relayed that people as far as the city of Francistown and surroundings had developed keen interest and were lining up to have their vehicles modified.

Asked if his type of trade did not tamper with the law, Mr Phaganyane said he had duly consulted with law enforcement officials whom he said had given him the green light to carry on as long as he did not alter the engine numbers, chassis numbers and the colours of the vehicles customised.

The fact that Mr Phaganyane’s place of abode, which doubles as his workshop was not electrified had not demoralised him in any way. He had taken advantage of solar energy to generate enough power he needed for his job.

In an effort to try to scale up production, he told BOPA that he had approached Citizen Entrepreneural Development Agency, who had advised him to first register his company, devise a business plan; the requirements he was yet to meet due of lack of funds. ENDS