‘Sneakerheads’ give township dwellers clean steps
CLEANING dirty sneakers and shoes is hard work, unless you are Senzo Nzuza from eSikhaleni.
Senzo ‘Msevistor’ and his best friend, Mzamo Buthelezi, started ESK Sneaker Wash in March simply because 'you can’t take clean steps with dirty shoes'.
The pair has turned the problem of dirty sneakers in the township into an opportunity, opening a muchneeded sneaker cleaning business in the heart of eSikhaleni, and helping other out-of-work youngsters in the process.
Today, their business sees hundreds of customers from the township and surrounding areas flock to Dube Village at H2 section to drop off their dirty pairs of Vans, Nikes, Adidas and the like for a thorough wash.
Receiving on average more than 15 pairs of sneakers to clean each day, the entrepreneurs feel their business is certainly on the rise.
Senzo, who holds a degree in consumer sciences (hotel & tourism management), says the hardship of searching for employment after graduating led them to entrepreneurship. ‘We started this business because of the high number of unemployed young people like us.
'We wanted to help the youth in our community of Dube Village to escape drug abuse and crime,’ said Senzo.
He and Mzamo have five people working for them, three of whom are permanent. Their clientele ranges between the ages of 17 and 35.
According to Mzamo, the support from their own community has been overwhelming since day one.
‘Most of our customers find our business on social media where we advertise. They then come to us from Richards Bay suburbs, KwaDlangezwa and even Empangeni.
'The community of eSikhaleni has been supportive from the start, for which we are very grateful,’ he said.
Senzo and Mzamo say they are excited about the future of their business, which they want to see grow in every township to help young people in other 'hoods.
We wanted to help the youth in our community escape drug abuse and crime