Making the sale requires a beady eye

Tafadzwa Zvomuo has been making a living for eight years from the beading skills he learnt in his home country, Zimbabwe.

Zvomuo, who has many international clients, sells his creations on the corner of Chester and Cardigan roads, halfway between Rosebank and the Zoo Lake in Johannesburg.

''Although this is quite a good spot with some space for us to work, the situation is desperate with the Metro cops frequently coming to fine us and confiscate our beaded sculptures .

"Then we have to go and try to get them back and pay a fine of R1800," says Zvomuo.

He arrives at his little space at about 8am and leaves at 4.30pm.

He spends the day spying out the traffic, watching for cops, beading and waiting for customers.

''Luckily we don't have to carry everything to and from work - the man across the road has given us the use of a storeroom.

"He supports us and helps us, and tries to step in when the cops come and hassle us."

''I have a lot of tourists from all over the world coming into my 'office'," he says.

Zvomuo shares his space with a friend, Tapiwa Dombodzvuku.

''I like sitting here and beading all day," he says.

''We supply the nearby Parkview shops and even have a standing order in Durban, but one day I would love to have my own shop."

''I sometimes get inspired while I'm sitting here.

''The community loves us, but the bylaws are against us.

"People come with their own ideas for us to create, or I look on the internet. "I can make anything, but sheep are the most popular."