Ballito’s ice cream pedlar keeps walking through faith

The familiar yet out-of-place clanging of a ice cream salesman’s bell echoing down the streets of Ballito has been met with an outpouring of generosity as word spreads of the hawkers’ daily pilgrimage.

The blisters on Richard Ngwane’s calloused feet tell a story of faithful endurance of hardship that speaks to his resilience and faith in God.

Faced with beaches being closed for the past 10 weeks during national lockdown, the humble ice cream seller took his wares to the streets in a bid to provide for his family.

Richard has been selling ice creams on Ballito’s beaches for the past 35 years and is well known to regular beach-goers.

In the height of season he can make up to R1000 in ice cream sales a day, but a large portion of that goes towards his transport costs and buying stock.

The lockdown has meant he has had to rely on his pension to provide for his six children, of whom only one is employed, and two grandchildren.

Hailing from rural Ndwedwe, Richard spends R120 a day on transport, first to Tongaat where he buys his ice creams, and then on to Ballito to sell his wares.

The 63-year-old ice cream seller said it was difficult to sell house-to-house but he was pushing on, as without an income his family would not eat.

He spends the day walking from 10am to 3pm, before returning home.

“It has been very hard with the beaches closed,” said Richard, “sometimes I do not sell anything.”

The Courier posted his photo on Facebook and Instagram this week and Richard was overwhelmed by the response.

“People are hooting at me and stopping to give me money and bread. I cannot believe it, but I thank God and I pray that Jesus will bless them!”

He said he was living Mathew 25, where Jesus says “Whatever you do for those in need, you do for Him”.

One Umhlali businessman even bought him groceries and drove to his Ndwedwe home to deliver them.

Despite his struggles, Richard remains upbeat and hopeful the beaches will be reopened soon.

Confident that his God will provide for his needs, he slings his heavy cooler-bag over his shoulder and loaded with his favourites – granadilla balls and caramel crunch – he keeps walking.

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