Malusi Gumede was at his wits end after his carpentry business was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and then the civil unrest in July. However, he finally got a break when he received equipment from the Department of Small Business Development and the eThekwini Metro over this past weekend.
Gumede told Vutivi News that he would now be able to work at a pace that ensured more business, and hopefully more employment opportunities. Gumede is the owner of Qwabe Interiors, a carpentry business in Durban. He opened a shop five years ago after seeing that employment opportunities were hard to come by.
“When I started out, the municipality registered us on their database and provided me with space from which to work,” he said. “Our business specialises in making cabinets, stand-alone and built-in wardrobes, kitchen units and anything that has to do with wood.”
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Gumede, who has one full-time employee and a few part-time staffers, said that although his business was not doing badly before the lockdown, it could have been better. “We struggled with equipment and because of that we could not work at a faster pace,” he said. “But things were really rough on us when the pandemic found its way to our front door and we took a profit knock,” the businessman said.
“Things became worse when the mall which we are situated nearby was hit by lootings, and as a result people could no longer come and place orders and view our products because the area was closed off for weeks, forcing us to close our doors too,” Gumede said that when he got a call from the metro, he was overwhelmed with joy and relief.
He received a compressor, a drill and a grinder. “I could not believe it because I remember that we were made to fill in forms and apply for assistance and when we were not assisted, I was disappointed,” he said. “I told myself, though that I would hold on until something happened and I am glad I did not give up…. I love carpentry because I have a passion for it and because it is where I can express my creativity and my love for unconventional designs.”
Gumede was one of over 30 businesses that received equipment from the metro and the department in KwaMashu, Durban, over the weekend. Equipment, including gas stoves and generators valued at over R2-million, was donated to informal traders and small businesses from different sectors including hospitality and construction.
