Some
2500 Cameroonians live in South Africa, notably in the major cities of
Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
A
good number of them are studying, while others are hustling to make ends meet.
In a context of limited job opportunities, many Cameroonians living in
Johannesburg have opted to start businesses of their own.
Dongmo Furniture, opposite the High Court in the central business district of Johannesburg is today part of
three furniture stores born out of the determination of Theodore Dongmo a young
Cameroonian who arrived South Africa in 2005.
“We are talking about 3million Rands
for this branch of pre-chart. But we’re talking about more other branches, ah I
can say about 10 million Rands, the capital of my business for the moment.”
He
has taken advantage of the tax breaks and investment climate to scale up his
business from just furniture sale to manufacture, creating 90 jobs, and opening
three other branches.
“South Africa gives good opportunity for the
people who like to open a company. When it comes to the manufacture side then
the bank, they check all the way you operate and then they can also give you
the loan, your bank can also give you motivation”
Not
far off in the student residential area of Braamfontein, Mvoubangsi Genesis the
CEO of Graceland Beauty Saloon is another Cameroonian who has settled into the
South African business tissue.
“I came here to study, then I
realised it was not that easy, then I started a barbing saloon by training
myself how to shave, I did not have any idea about it. I trained myself, there was
nobody to help me things like that, then from there God blessed me, I had a
bigger saloon, a bigger space then I employed guys we are about 17 of us.”
Eric
Tala alias Shaman, also started as a barber. Today runs a cabaret night club,
Chronic 24/7, and is branching into show business.
“I invited Mathematic de Petit Pays, and right
now with the guys I am working with we are busy communicating with Longue
Longue, which he will be coming in November, which is not yet confirmed.”
Like
them many other Cameroonians are excelling in various fields like education,
medicine, engineering and entertainment in South Africa, and quite a handful
are keen on investing back home.
No comments:
Post a Comment