Long queues have become a common sight around the country with lockdown regulations restricting the number of people allowed into buildings.
It’s tiring and time-consuming waiting in long lines, but a 21-year-old from Nyanga East has come up with a solution.
Bahle Ngqula and his crew wake up around 3am to stand in queues for people and get paid for it.
“I lost my job four months ago and one day I took my mom, who is wheelchair-bound, to the clinic for her treatment,” he says.
“That is when I saw that people are spending long hours in lines, some are old while others are pregnant.”
Bahle approached his friends and presented the idea of standing in queues for people and charging them R50.
“I first did a little bit of research and asked how long people wait in queues and asked how much people would be willing to pay if someone stood in the queue for them.”
He received positive feedback and went on to start his business.
“I decided to call it ‘Thumathina Sikuyele’ which means ‘send us’.
“I started this by myself and employed four guys already.
“What we mainly do is wake up at around 3am or 4am, go to Sassa, Home Affairs and clinics where we stand in lines for people.”
He says people appreciate what they do and don’t mind paying more as their work is impressive.
Thumathina Sikuyele currently operates in Gugulethu, Nyanga and Philippi and hope to expand to other areas.
Bahle adds: “Our short-term goal is to hire students who are in need of extra money and also get uniforms for ourselves.
“Our long-term goal is to grow into other provinces, mainly the Eastern Cape.”
Bookings are made via WhatsApp or call on 084 973 9490.