A dapper man drew attention on social media when he offered his garden services riding his bicycle and hauling a weed-eater.
Residents love this ingenious approach where nothing deters him from making an honest living. Not even the theft of his mode of transport . . .
The 31-year-old Fredrick Nyirienda came to South Africa at the end of 2011 – and, despite many setbacks, has persevered and made remarkable comebacks, because he believes that hard work yields success.
He hails from Mzuzu in Malawi, where lack of funds forced him out of school after Grade 9. The large family could not subsist on a single piece of land where they farmed with corn, pumpkin and cassava.
When his father died in 2000 and prices kept on escalating in Malawi, the quality of life down-spiralled. Finding work in the business sector or anywhere else was virtually beyond his reach, and as a last resort he decided to go to South Africa.
Since 2012 he and his young wife have steadfastly been following their guiding principle – hard work as the only way to live honourably.
“I cannot be a beggar, he muses. “It might help for a day, but what about tomorrow?”
He tried his hand at painting and gardening services. Eventually he landed a job at a local outlet for dairy products, but the company down-scaled due to the COVID-19 outbreak and he lost his job.
He returned to his former employer, who helped him to acquire a weed-eater. His benefactor allowed him to repay him in monthly instalments, but this was not the end of his woes. He decided to build a small, light-weight trailer to transport the weed-eater and a lawnmower which had been donated by another Good Samaritan. During his excursion to a local, well-known steel supplier to enquire about prices, his bicycle was stolen in front of the shop. The crime was recorded on CCtv video, and the evidence supplied to the local SAPD.
In the meantime his Facebook post had been followed by someone from England who transferred money to his parents living in Jeffreys Bay, requesting them to buy Fredrick a new bicycle. He was given an engine, which he is at present trying to fit to the cycle. The family of three make ends meet by cultivating vegetables.
This amazing man’s integrity prevents him from procuring money illicitly or in an undignified manner. He believes that work elevates his personal dignity and protects other people.
While trying his best to find work, he works hard at learning the Xhosa language, which differs from his mother tongue Sheshewa.
Learning Afrikaans is another matter, but he is eagerly picking up odd words and expressions wherever he can.
For more information, contact Nyirienda at 078 277 7484, or send a WhatsApp to 084 706 8748.
