Modiba was born and bred in Lephepane village outside Tzaneen and is the owner of a unisex shoe brand called Mitchwear. He formally launched the footwear in November last year and it has been well received with local music star King Monada as the brand ambassador.

The local entrepreneur, now based in Johannesburg, was exposed to the footwear industry when he was part of the textiles and furniture industry SETA where he acquired experience and qualifications in footwear technology, manufacturing, and design.

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He says he hopes to one-day transfer his skills to young people and teach them about the industry. “Our challenge as the country is that we are still relying on international companies for manufacturing equipment and raw material. “There is no funding to start this kind of a business and funds to market one’s brand is a challenge,” he said. You can buy Mitchwear on their official website www.mitchwear.co.za.