PEOPLE stare at him, and even stop him for a chat, mistaking him for President Cyril Ramaphosa!
But Joel Chinyai does not mind.
He told Daily Sun this started after Ramaphosa became president.
“People randomly showered me with love and wanted to take pictures with me.
“I remember some ladies asking why I was walking around without bodyguards. I told them I’m not the president,” he said.
The 51-year-old from Riverlea, Joburg is originally from Limpopo and has been in Gauteng for 15 years. He doesn’t think he’s related to Ramaphosa, but said: “People close to me always tell me my dad might have been naughty in his times.”
The married father of two said people stop him.
“Some are adamant I’m Ramaphosa, no matter how much I try to convince them otherwise.
“Some ask me about service delivery and are not convinced I have nothing to do with politics. I fear angry residents might think I’m the one who has to render service delivery,” said the self-employed furniture manufacturer.
He said others think he’s related to the President and give him messages for Ramaphosa.
Said colleague, Bongani Dladla: “When I saw him for the first time, I asked myself why an entire president would want to make furniture?”