The lack of employment opportunities in the country has prompted many South Africans to create their own means of survival. Many also look to others for inspiration and guidance on how to sustain themselves.
One such inspirational figure is Munzhedzi Mashau (76) of Mukondeni village, who has spent decades making the popular decorative African pottery. Through this humble craft, she has managed to support her family and educate her children. All it took was creativity, determination and clay.
Mashau collects clay from riverbanks and mountains around her village and moulds it into African clay pots and other decorative items. Using this skill, passed down through generations, she has managed to fight poverty and unemployment.
“Pottery is a traditional Venda craft dating back many centuries,” she said. “People who say clay is dirty are often those who are too lazy to use their minds to improve their situation. Our communities sometimes fail because of laziness. I had a strong desire to improve my life, and that is why I started making clay pots,” she added.
Mashau said she learned the art of pottery from her mother many years ago. “My mother used to ask me to soften clay for her when I was still young, and I enjoyed doing it without realising that she was equipping me with special skills that would help me later in life,” she said.
She explained how she entered the pottery business. “I initially wanted to buy flowerpots and resell them, but I did not have enough money to start. Then I realised that I could make my own flowerpots, and that is how my clay business began,” she said.
Mashau now makes flowerpots, bowls, containers and many other decorative items. According to her, the secret lies in knowing where to find suitable clay and how to prepare it properly.
She walks several kilometres into the bush to collect the clay and carries it home on her head as she has no other means of transport. Using traditional methods, she carefully kneads the clay, coils it into pots and shapes the products by hand.
“After making the products, I collect firewood and cow dung from the bush to heat the clay items. I heat them throughout the night in a special hole that I dug at home. After they cool down, I apply the final touches with paint,” she explained.