Drip Footwear once stood as the coolest South African sneaker success story. From one small spot in Tembisa, Lekau Sehoana hustled his way into more than 20 stores by 2023, employing hundreds and pushing a strong South African street identity into malls everywhere. The name Drip wasn’t random either. It came straight from urban slang for looking stylish. It sounded intentional. Then the bills came knocking.
According to City Press, Wideopen Platform, an advertising agency, took Drip to the Gauteng High Court after unpaid work climbed to R20 million (more than $1 million) and the court granted a sequestration order in October 2024.
From there, things spiraled. Stores closed nationwide. What was left of the once-hyped brand hit Bidder’s Choice this week. The trademark sold for R745,000 (less than $50,000), while remaining sneaker stock fetched R406,500 ($24,000) from 19 stores across Gauteng and nearby provinces. A brand once worth millions and showcasing South African fashion style was now going for less than a decent JHB apartment.
This wasn’t Sehoana’s only business baby either. He launched Kiddies Republic in Polokwane’s Mall of the North hoping for a national rollout. Also liquidated. Money problems hit everything fast.
He’s not sitting still, though. This year, he introduced Kite SA Sneakers. A fresh start. He explained the playful name using memories from Ivory Park. “A lot of people are asking me why Kite? Honestly, I had to tap into my childhood and find exciting moments,” he said. And yes, he wants you to “come with me on this journey.”
Drip Footwear taught South Africa that a dream can become a store. It also taught that business debt doesn’t care about a good sneaker origin story.
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