Bottled water paying the bills

2008-03-04 20:30

Thabisile Khoza

Komatipoort - Three rural women have found their own way of tapping into the bottled-water industry.

They collect empty plastic 500ml bottles, fill them with tap water, freeze them and then sell them to thirsty people at the KaMaqhekeza shopping plaza near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga.

Martha Msimango, 60, said: "The idea came in 2003 when I accompanied my younger daughter to the plaza to withdraw money at the bank. The queue was long and we had to wait for many hours in the sun without water."

"Parts of our area don't have running water or water pipes, including our plaza. When I returned home, I thought of collecting empty bottles to sell frozen water at the plaza and its surroundings," she explained.

She started her business with only 10 bottles and sold each one for R1. <>Today, she sells more than 100 bottles a day for R1.50 each.

Apart from selling frozen water, the enterprising Msimango also sells vegetables at the local market.

Her idea has encouraged others

She will qualify for a state pension in May, but says she will continue with her business.

"I won't stop selling water because it's the kind of business that you don't spend too much money on," she said.

Her clever idea has inspired two other women to also sell frozen water.

Nora Vuma, 25, who has three children and lives in Mafambisa in KaMaqhekeza, started her business in 2005 with 15 bottles.

Today she sells more than 50 bottles a day, or more than 80 bottles at a weekend.

"I'm happy to run this business because it's better than working on the farms.

"All I have to do is collect empty bottles, wash them, fill them with water and put them in the fridge before selling them the next day," she said.

"The business runs so smoothly. People are always thirsty and it's our job to provide them with cheap, cold water," she said.

"You don't spend anything on running it, except for paying the electricity bill for freezing the water."

Women should follow their lead

Lucy Magagula, 25, of Phakama in Sibayeni village started her bottled-water business in November last year.

She started by selling 10 bottles a day, but now sells more than 60 bottles a day and more than 100 at weekends at the plaza.

"I wasn't able to feed my six-year-old daughter before I started this business, but now she has everything she needs from me," said Magagula.

All three woman say that others should follow their lead and get up and do things for themselves instead of relying on men.

- African Eye