Peter Nkosi dropped out of medical school because he wanted to pursue a career in mechanical engineering but when that did not happen, he built a scooter using scrap materials to help put food on the table.
The 25-year-old from Tjakastad, near Elukwatini in Mpumalanga, is now using the three-wheel scooter to transport locals to various destinations.
He told Sowetan yesterday that the longest distance he has driven in it was 30km and his client paid R150 for the trip. Nkosi said most of his trips were within a 5km radius and clients paid R10 for a single trip, which goes a long way to helping his family.
Nkosi said as a young boy, he always wanted to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. So much so that he dropped out of medical school in Cuba in 2019 after receiving a bursary from the government.
“After not getting any bursary to study mechanical engineering, I was pressured to take the Cuba medical programme which I did for about four years. I went to Cuba and studied for four years, but I had to quit because I was bored there.
"Not because I failed... Some of my clients need first aid because they are old and I am able to help them when the need arises. My passion is mechanical engineering, that is why I could not complete my studies in medicine. I was not able to secure funding to study mechanical engineering."
Nkosi said when the country went under lockdown last year, he was stuck at home and got bored. He then decided to collect scrap metal which he used to build the scooter.
“I wanted to have a transport to move around and do business in the community and be able to visit my friends. It worked as a bicycle initially and I modified it and put the engine on it. Now it’s a business and because no-one works at home, I’m able to use the money I get from the passengers to buy mealie meal and help where I can," Nkosi said.
“My longest distance that I have travelled is from my village to Badplaas. On the road, it can move at a speed of up to 80km/h but I don’t get there because I want no accident, so I drive slower than that,” said Nkosi.
He said though he has a driver's licence, he doesn’t have a permit to ferry people.
“I’m working on getting a permit,” said Nkosi.
"I transport people around the village, some go outside the village and most of my clients are older people who use my transport when going to their pension pay points,” said Nkosi.
"I will use the little that I get from transporting people and maybe register myself at a university or TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) college and follow my passion.”
One of his clients, John Sambo, 73, told Sowetan that he always walked more than 3km to get to his pension pay point, but since Nkosi started the business, he doesn’t have to walk.
“Firstly, there are these boys who are criminals in this community; after getting my pension, one had to risk being robbed but now I have transport. This boy drives so nice and takes me there and when I’m done, I call him. He’s a very clever boy. This is a good business,” said Sambo.
Nkosi is working on collecting more scrap material so that he can build another one and grow his business.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.