The street bustles with people rushing to and fro, taxi’s hooting in the background, as the informal economy takes off for the day.

Bloemfontein Courant reports everyone has their own reason for waking up at four in the morning, but Skosana’s is to save his Mini Cooper from being repossessed after his employment contract ended earlier this year.

Tshepo Skosana. PHOTO: Gypseenia Lion

“People don’t get the inside of it. There is depression involved, and I lost a lot of weight knowing that my car can get repossessed. I love my car. I decided to do something about it while I heal from it [unemployment], because [at one point] you earn a lot of money and now you don’t. It is better for me to say that I have tried, even if they repossess it,” he says.

Skosana posted about his story on Twitter, and it gained traction as users questioned his reasoning behind selling scones to pay for his car. Some even went as far as advising him to stop applying for work, encouraging him to expand his business instead. According to Skosana, the Twitter post was an attempt to let young people know “that it is okay to be a street vendor”.

“I want to make being a street vendor fashionable. I want people to say it is okay to be a street vendor with a vision to go up. I want to see myself renting one of these buildings. I want to bring back the idea that the economy is here in the ranks. This is where the real stuff is happening, and the real economy is here,” he says.

PHOTO: Gypseenia Lion

On the other hand, Skosana chooses to use social media as a way to increase the exposure of his business, Amasiko eBuhlanti Experience, and build a client base.

“I believe that I have to work on this. Keeping this car is very important. Expanding this business is not that easy because the same business is funding a car. I would want to go big, but I have to be realistic about this. I saw some comments on Twitter saying that I should open a bakery but it is just not realistic,” he says.

 But why is the car so important?

The Mini Cooper enthusiast joined a charity organisation, Bloem Miniacs, where members who own Mini Coopers do charity drives to various locations in Bloemfontein.

“I remember being part of a soup drive and I was the photographer of that event. I could see how the homeless people were happy that someone came and brought them a meal. For me, it is about the purpose. I drive it [the car] with pride knowing that this car, this brand makes a difference in people’s lives. For me it is like keeping this [the car] and keep changing people’s lives,” he explains.

PHOTO: Gypseenia Lion

Skosana advises young people from all walks of life to get out there and do something. “If you want to do something, start now. Be more realistic. Keep applying but try to open a business, no job is better than the other. Do whatever you’re best at.”

Bloemfontein Courant/Gypseenia Lion