No stopping young Maboneng

Working three jobs in the Maboneng Precinct, Tele embodies the spirit and culture of the newly-revived precinct.

“I live and travel from Thembisa every day, work at Jozi Maboneng Radio three times a week, manage the clothing store, Storytellers from Tuesday to Saturday, and work at a Happy Water Café on Sundays,” she said.

“Radio is my first passion, but all these jobs will help me get to where I want to be – I eventually want to teach. My jobs are interlinked, with each one I tell the story behind the product and that is a form of teaching.”

A self-proclaimed activist of life, Tele believes one of the best things about Maboneng Precinct is that it welcomes anyone.

She said usually business owners are not given space in malls and shopping complexes because they do not fit their image or do not bring the desired clientele.

“Maboneng is different in this way… this precinct promotes art, and although artists are not always known for making money, Maboneng has somewhat closed this gap,” she said.

“It’s a space that allows people to express themselves and allows everyone to fit in.”

Tele said young people are often perceived as lazy because they can’t find work, but as she demonstrates, it isn’t always the case.

“I used to hang out in the precinct quite often, and this was when I saw the business boom as an opportunity, but you find many other young people don’t even know where to start,” she said.

“I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to attend good schools and this may have helped me gain the kind of knowledge and business acumen to see an opportunity where someone else may not.”