Newspaper vendor turns 72: all he wants, is …
He’s been selling newspapers for 11 years
THE average 71-year-old is on pension, enjoying retirement at home, a retirement village or an old age home.
This is not the case for energetic and vibrant John Mashinini who has been selling newspapers at the corner of Elgin Road and Olienhout Avenue in Birchleigh for the past 11 years.
On a daily basis Mashinini sells around 50 newspapers.
He wakes up at 2am from Monday to Friday and is at his usual spot with a big smile from 4:30am to 9am. To ensure he is up early, bed time is at 6pm.
Asked if he gets tired of standing and running up and down for almost five hours daily, Mashinini said: “I don’t get tired, this is where I’m going to finish up. Other companies don’t hire people my age, so this is all I can do, and I love people.”
Motorists wave, hoot and give him big smiles and residents in the neighbourhood walk from their houses to buy their daily read from him.
Mashinini seems popular with his clients. “How you treat your customers will influence how they treat you back. I have always smiled and laughed with them and that’s why they smile back,” he said.
Mashinini said he’d be lying if he said he didn’t like his job as the newspaper man, he only had one complaint. He only makes R210 a day.
“In all the years I have worked in this job, I have made the same money. What I earn has not increased ever since I started,” he explained.
The 71-year-old is the sole breadwinner in his home.
“My wife died a few years ago. I had five children but now I only have three, the other two died. My two daughters and son are all unemployed. They live with me and look to me to provide.”
“I have to work, my pension would not be enough for us,” he added.
Originally from Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal, Mashinini moved to Kempton Park in 1958 with his parents. He now stays in Tsenelong Section, Tembisa.
Born on February 10, 1944, Mashinini turns 72 years old on Wednesday. To celebrate, he will spend time with his children and friends in his age group.
“I am going to buy cake, drinks and food and just sit and enjoy myself.”
So what’s the one thing that Mashinini would like to receive for his birthday?
He takes a while to answer but finally replies: “They can buy me groceries.”
