Every day from 11:00 to 18:00 you will find Simingaye Vincent Mbatha (39), originally from KwaZulu-Natal, busy sprinkling water on lilies and proteas, arranging roses in a bucket and charming residents into buying his products.
This entrepreneur started his business in Johannesburg. “My business was born out of a lack of job opportunities in the city and the country. I used to walk around the streets with a basket of roses to sell. I then moved to Polokwane.
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“I am uneducated and I have no savings and I work hard to clear it. Between trying to make ends meet, I forgot about getting married. Now it is too late for me.”
Vincent buys the flowers from Multi-Flora City Deep market and travels to Lydenburg, where he usually does his business. “What I buy and how much depends on the market price. Usually I buy between 100 and 150 lilies, 40 or 50 proteas and 240 to 360 roses. I was lucky to arrive in Lydenburg – the people here are giving their full support.”
Most of Vincent’s customers are elderly people between the age of 40 to 50, with a small number of younger people supporting him.
He tells how he has to take additional care in summers when flowers can easily wilt in the heat. He covers them with plastic, sprinkles water on them, and keeps them in a cool dry place.
“Roses are the most popular sellers in Lydenburg.” He sells eight roses for R50, a protea for R25 and a pack of eight lillies for R45.
According to Vincent, Valentines and Mother’s Day are his best selling times. This is when he makes his bonus, but during these times he has to pay twice the price for each stem he purchases.
“I regard myself lucky to have the support of residents in Lydenburg. While I was selling in Polokwane, a Burgersfort resident told me that I could thrive in their town. But it was not successful. I met a guy in Burgersfort who advised me that business can be better in Lydenburg. I came to Lydenburg and saw it myself; it’s a friendly, workable environment that favours me,” he said.
“Some buyers do tell me the reason for buying their flowers, but the majority keep it to themselves. I have my regular customers, but all in all I am just thankful to everyone that supports me,” he added.
