08 Jul 2018

 The name Pyetle Hill would not mean much to many, but to those who grew up in the area, it is famous for its unique soil colours, which have not faded even after so many years. 

 Among those who grew up in the vicinity of the hill is Ms Kelebogile Olebeng of Moshupa whose parents’ ploughing fields lie at its foot. 

 “I grew up around the place and its unique soil fascinated me,” Ms Olebeng said in an interview during the just-ended Women’s Expo in Gaborone. 

She said even as a child she found the array of unique beautiful colours of Pyetle soil such as black, white, yellow, brown and grey among others, mesmerizing. 

It is no wonder that as an adult Ms Olebeng would retrace her steps to Pyetle with a deeper conviction that something precious could come out of the soil. 

“I realised that I could make a living out of it,” she said. 

Well aware that playing with soil at her age she ran the risk of being branded childish, Ms Olebeng, propelled by the desire to change her economic situation for the better, summoned the courage to proceed. Once she had the master plan, she put together a team of her contemporaries who were also raised around the area being Pelotshweu Rammone, Khutsafalo Lesemelwa and Mmanko Mapatso to start Pyetle Arts and Crafts. 

The four started bottling different colours of the soil to create a variety of shapes and patterns to sell to those with a taste for beautiful things. 

 “We get about nine colors from the soil and we create different patterns,” stated Ms Olebeng, who is the team leader. Although the business was established about five years ago and has been part of the Women’s Exposition for the past three years, it has not yet penetrated the market. 

Ms Olebeng attributed this to lack of financial muscle to expand the business, market it and buy more equipment.

The idea of getting government assistance is still being mooted, she said. However, the small scale business remains a means of survival for the four ladies.

Ms Olebeng said the aim was to make Pyetle Arts and Crafts a force to reckon with in the arts and crafts industry, which they believed was achievable through the refinement of their business strategy. 

“We want to see our products in lodges and also diversify our decorations,” stated the optimistic Ms Olebeng. ENDS