Passion for good workmanship

Gallery Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - Lunga Doyi has a passion for repairing shoes.

And if he cannot locate soles or a heel for a particular boot or shoe, he simply makes a plan and "creates" it himself.

For example, sometimes stock used for repairs, ordered from Cape Town, does not arrive in time, so he will simply cut a sole from other material.

If he cannot find the right heel for a broken boot or shoe, he makes the heel out of wood and then varnishes the wood, so it is an attractive feature of the shoe.

Clients who thought they might have to throw away a pair of shoes are delighted when Lunga is able to make a plan and resurrect the shoe, especially leather shoes, which are difficult to find these days.

Photo gallery: Lunga's passion for shoes

What is even more remarkable, is that Lunga only started repairing shoes in April this year. He has only been in the trade for five months, since losing his job in IT and printing because of Covid-19.

He prefers repairing shoes to IT, he says. "I like working with my hands and helping people."

Lunga means "all right" and extensions of the name, Lungisa or Lingisile, mean to "fix up" or "make things right", so Lunga certainly has the right name for the work he does.

Watch a video below:

He is quietly spoken, cheerful and polite to his clients.

Lunga does not over promise. He will look at a shoe, turning it around in his hand, and say modestly: "I'll see what I can do." But clients are delighted with his good workmanship.

He is based at the KwaNonqaba Beehives - municipal business premises for start-up entrepreneurs - at the corner of Mayixhale Road and Bill Jeffery Avenue.

Lunga replaced this broken heel with a wooden one he made himself.