Meet the man with a plan, Maanda Negondeni from Tshidzini village near Tshaulu, who came up with a superb idea to generate an income for himself, despite what some may think of him.
When Maanda completed his Grade 12 at Mpandeli High School in 2013, he did not have the financial capacity to further his education, nor could he find a stable job. For years, trying to keep afloat was a harsh reality for him, until one day, in 2019, when this smart thinker decided to take advantage of the abundance of locusts and grasshoppers in his village and start his own small business by catching and selling them.
"My message to the unemployed is that they must forget about people and do something that will generate honest money. We have to think outside the box and come up with sustainable means to earn a living. Locusts and grasshoppers are seasonal, of course, so when they are not in season, I do other piece jobs to earn a living."
He says that, at first, people laughed at him while he was catching these delicious insects. "Some people thought I was out of [my] mind, but they soon realised things were serious when people started to flock to my home to buy the insects. I am happy that my business helps to put food on the table, and I don't have to beg anyone for money."
But catching these insects can be tricky and is very time consuming, says Maanda. "They are very active during the day. I have now devised a plan to catch them at night, using a torch, or very early in the morning, while they are still asleep and inactive. Although there is the danger of snakes at night, I never give up because this is my main income," he said.
He can fill a whole five-litre container with locusts and grasshoppers every day. "These insects have a long life. You can put them in the deep freeze for five days, and after defrosting them for a day, they are still alive. I also pull the wings off and dry them, for those who prefer them dried."
Maanda said he was willing to share some advice with anyone who needed ideas to start their own informal business, like he did. They can contact him directly on 076 177 7711.