By Neo Kolane
Two craftsmen from Butha-Buthe are making fashionable bags using soft broom grass, Seshoeshoe cloth, leather and threads from maize meal bags.
One of the craftsmen Ntsane Mosanteli says he joined ‘Musa Lejone in the bag-making business in March this year.
He disclosed that Lejone, a 48-year old man, long started crafting the bags by producing them in small quantities in the presence of an available market.
Mosanteli who started off as a gardener at different houses, told thereporter this week that he joined Lejone during the summer when he himself used to fetch and gather soft broom grass to craft hats.
However, he disclosed that it takes a long time to make such hats because the kinds of hats he makes uses the threads from bags of maize meal.
He explained that among many reasons including the garden work he does restrict him from producing the items in bulks.
“I ended up meeting up with Lejone and we joined hands and work together and we ended up making money.
“Lejone draws and designs and then I assist with the rest,” Mosanteli said.
He said both of them have not gotten to the point where they can supply shops but they still make bags and customers place orders.
He revealed that at times, they advertise and it takes roughly two months without the bags being bought but at times they are bought in large quantities “to the point where we run short of them.”
The 27-year old added that they are looking at expanding the market.
Mosanteli said they use social media platform Facebook where he posts in different groups.
He said he also went to Bethlehem in South Africa where he looked for tourist attraction for him to display the bags. Apart from that he went to a neighbouring farm where he asked to display the bags because he sees white people being more interested in the bags.
The business studies graduate said they would like to be assisted in machinery like a grinder to cut the reed.
“We make different designs of the bags, decoration is also different as well, and we also want a You Tube page where people will give suggestion towards the bags.
“The bag ranges from M250 to M350,” Mosanteli said.
Ntsane Mosanteli can be contacted on +266 6810 6698 and ‘Musa Lejone on +266 5612 8364
