Thapelo Stoffel aims for the stars

"Born in an area rich with natural resources that I can use to make a living, I did not need to be unemployed. That is why I started doing this business.  I eat and sleep my craft.  I developed the love for arts and crafts while I was still a young boy at primary school.  I started to design products for businesses in 2008 working with Quality Special Investments, a company belonging to some Rastafarians based in Gaborone that makes leather shoes," he told The Monitor at the BOCCIM Northern Trade Fair, which ended yesterday.

Stoffel, who had a stall at the fair, later returned home to set up his own business."I decided to be unique; most people who are into arts and crafts in Hukuntsi are more into the leather shoe-making business. I came up with a different idea of designing leather bags, hats and traditional decorative materials using the remains of animals," says Stoffel.  He says that his business is easy - he goes around asking for animal skins.