Bead-work with sea view

When Eric Sthole lost his job in a joinery making coffins and caskets, to put bread on the table he was faced with a choice: turn to a life of crime or think creatively.

Born and raised in Kranskop, in the KwaMxhosa area outside Maphumulo, Eric’s people gave no thought to doing handicrafts and beadwork for a living.

But Eric had been taught beadwork at school, so faced with a hungry family, he decided to apply those skills learned long ago.

The Shaka’s Head resident set up a small stand next to the lifesaver’s cabin on Willard Beach where he has developed a fun and quirky approach to beadwork decoration.

To make his work different to others, he collects bottles, washes them and decorates them with copper wire and beads, to make it usable again. He also buys tin mugs and covers them with beads.

“What looks like rubbish to most people, to me is business and I use my skills to make you pay for what you have thrown away. You can also bring anything of your choice and I can decorate it with wire and beads,” said Sthole.

When The Courier visited him last Thursday, he was busy covering an electric lamp a customer had ordered.

Sthole said when he started his business eight years ago, it was very difficult because he did not have a permit. Therefore he chose a spot where he could hide his products when KwaDukuza traffic and crime prevention patrolled the area. He has a permit now,

His latest project is to work out how he can grow his business, to be able to employ other people in his township.

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