She uses her God given talent to earn a living. A ‘master’ with her hands, she makes bags, floor and wall carpets.
Ntombikayise Sibiya (52) from Surrey Farm, in the Dannhauser area, makes bags using old mealie meal bags and cotton wool.
“I knit with wool to make these bags that sell from R50 to R450 per bag depending on size,” she said. Ms Sibiya learned to make bags from her late mother as she was also a maker of bags and carpets.
“I started to make these bags in 2006 but I never went to an art school,” Ms Sibiya added. Sadly, she has never taken her work to any gallery or exhibition centre.
She simply goes door to door to sell her bags to the community and she also goes to pension points to sell her products.
She added that shecollects old mealie meal bags from neighbours so she always has enough raw material.
“I hope to one day sell my work in the bigger towns and at craft markets.”
Her next plan is to increase the size of her working area. Presently, she works from a small room where she also sleeps and cooks.
Ms Sibiya wants to share her knowledge and would love to teach crafts to the young people of her rural area where opportunities are limited.
