The old coat still maketh the man

Most people cannot keep clothes for more than 10 years, but an old man from Tshiombo village outside Thohoyandou takes pride in his 54-year-old dust coat that he bought for R2 in 1966. This is the inspiring and wonderful story of Mr Kanakana Jutas Mathoho (82) who values his possessions.

Mathoho says he cannot be separated from his dust coat because it brings many memories to mind. He says raising the R2 in those years was very difficult, because that was a lot of money. “I was a well-known tailor and I used to charge people between 10 and 30 cents for clothes alterations. I managed to save a few cents, until it became R2 and then used the money to buy this dust coat at the now-defunct shop called Ha-Gireme in Sibasa. It was plain in colour when I bought it, and I decided to decorate it with blue and red colours, using my sewing machine. I used to wear it when I did my sewing, but I decided to keep it after I retired from sewing in the late seventies. Sometimes I put it on when I’m in a good mood and travel to Thohoyandou to do my shopping.”

Mathoho, a well-known mbila (hand piano) player, says keeping old items is part of his life. He still has the wooden name tag he used in 1979 when he was working for the Venda government as an inspector for Tshiombo Irrigation Scheme water channels.

“This dust coat is older than a lot of people here in my village. It was bought before many were born. I don’t throw old things away, because they form part of my history. Even when I depart from this world, my grandchildren will be able to see my life through these old things. I have already told everyone at home that when I die, all my old items should never be destroyed. In fact, I have a plan to develop a small museum here at home for everyone to have access to my old things.”

Asked if he could exchange his dust coat for any cash amount, the old man shook his head and said: “Even if a billionaire brings a bag full of money, I will never sell my dust coat. It is part of my life and selling it would be like removing part of my body while I’m still alive.”

Date:20 December 2020

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