Makhelwane Craft Shop

Makhelwane consists of a two-room shop and parking area, and activities offered include indlamu and ingonabusuhu.  The unique feature of the shop, is that they sell products that are produced on site, including traditional homemade medicine. 

Items for sale:

• Imvunulo eg amabheshu, beads, necklaces, rings etc;
• Various kinds of baskets, weaved out of grass; and
• Woven carpets and bags, wooden bowls, wooden carvings, beer pots, walking sticks, jacaranda trays, traditional sandals (ingcabulela) and traditional medicine. Thatched roofing is done on request.

How this business started:

"In 1991 we formed a group of six people who shared the common interest of carving woods and using skins of animals.  We made a shelter along the road and started to hang our crafts, selling to passing travellers and local people.  The owners of the farm kept throwing us out, but we persisted and finally they agreed to give us a small portion of land to rent.  We built a two-room shop on this land, and negotiated the rent.  It was not an easy start, but it was the love of it that kept us going".