We often have moments of great cynicism and frustration when motivational lines like, ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’, make us laugh.
However, 24-year-old Philani Dladla is a living proof that it’s perseverance and sheer will and determination which really matter, especially during bad times.
Dladla was a homeless drug addict in Johannesburg. However, unlike other drug junkies who used to beg to get money which they used to buy drugs, Dladla made a living for himself by selling books and book reviews at busy traffic intersections, according to ScoopWhoop .
According to Huffington Post , Dladla gained recognition because of this unconventional yet creative way of selling books. South African filmmaker Tebogo Malope gave him the name ‘Pavement Bookworm’.
Dladla’s love for books eventually saved him from drug addiction as he gave up drugs to dedicate himself to his book-selling business.
Even though he charges adults for the books he sells, Dladla gives books to children for free.
Here is the two-part interview of Dladla taken by Malope: