Meshack’s Bike Shop is a beautiful success story of how a young man went from being homeless to running a successful business; a dream fulfilled!
Western Cape, South Africa (14 April 2021) – Meshack Nchupetsang found himself homeless and living on the streets, but one phone call reminded him that he was a warrior destined for great success.
It was that one phone call that changed his destiny and saved his life.
Meshack grew up in Mafeking but, at just 19-years old, made his way down to Cape Town to study Marketing at Varsity College. It was always a dream of his to get a degree and start his own business. Two years later and the passionate South African had run out of money and hope. Meshack went from a student with his whole future in front of him to living alone on the streets, fighting to survive.
Now at 46-years-old, Meshack says that a reverse-charged phone call to his ‘god-fearing’ mom was the thing that actually saved his life!
“She reminded me that I was a proud warrior, and I had what it takes to succeed.”
She also reminded the young man that he had grown up ‘camping’ and would need to look at his situation in a different light to work his way through it. That is when Meshack’s mind shifted, and he started looking at his homelessness as ‘happy camping’.
It’s not apparent how Meshack came across ‘toilet soaps’, but the passionate businessman then started selling them, spending every day walking door to door with the smart introductory pitch, “Hi, I’m Meshack Nchupetsang from Mafeking. I’d like to show you soaps that will make going to the toilet a pleasure”.
The young man managed to raise R1,800 in a matter of days, and back in 1996, this was quite a large sum of money.
Meshack says it was that exact amount that enabled him to turn his life around again. From there, everything fell into place. He secured a container and some tools and started the foundation of what is now his impressive Bike Shop in Westlake informal settlement.
25 years later and his business is still a massive success… but his story also serves as a reminder that the way we see the world depends on how we look at it, and perhaps, sometimes, all we need is a little reminder to change our view.
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