The financial intervention by the department in support of the community initiatives has saw a “huge” improvement in the living conditions of project members and that of communities they represent.
Members of Ematolweni Agricultural Primary Cooperative and Zubenathi Women Brick Making Cooperative are happy with a service delivery by government, in general, and by the Department of Social Development and Special Programmes, in particular.
Ematolweni is a food production Coop from Kwa-Venne village in Ntabankulu in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality while Zubenathi is a brick making Coop from Ncembu Administrative Area in Ugie in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality. They were both launched by the department on 19 and 20 October as Social Development Month Campaign reaches its climax.
Month October is recognised as Social Development Month, a month set aside to showcase the work that the department is mandated to carry out.
When launching Zubenathi Coop, MEC Dr Pemmy Majodina encouraged Ncembu community members to lead the development of their own community. “In a developing democracy like South Africa, it is important for this government to put people at the centre of their own development.
I therefore encourage you to stand up and initiate community projects and request funding from government. Ours (Social Development and Special Programmes), is to give you a start-up capital before Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform and Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs grow you to become a successful business,” she conceded.
Due to high rate of unemployment, government encourages communities to stand up and start their own community initiatives. Sums of money are put aside to fund these initiatives. Between these two Cooperatives, sixteen community members have received employment to support their families, seven for Ematolweni and nine for Zubenathi.
Over a million rand was invested by the department to carry through Ematolweni Coop, whilst Zubenathi received R750 000, both receiving the money in trenches. The latter sell its production, bricks, to the locals at an affordable price, considering the cost of travelling and delivery if they were to buy them from town.
The former produces cabbage, potatoes, spinach, beetroot, onion and pumpkins, butternut, carrot, beans and Millies and sell it to community members, local hawkers, Spar Super Market from Mt Frere and Ntabankulu, Boxer Super Store from Mt Frere and Ntabankulu and Kei Fresh Produce from Mthatha.
Members from both projects receive a monthly stipend of R1000 when the project is making a good profit. “I believe that government has managed to change our lives for the better. Some of us used to stay at our parents’ houses, but now we have managed to build our own little houses, through this support by governemnt. We are also able to take our children to school and put food on the table,” says Project member Mercy Gxumisa.
Gxumisa also believes that Ematolweni has contributed to community development. “We have also managed to offer employment to the unemployed youth. When we plant, harvest, tilt, irrigate and progress, we would take the unempoloyed youth from the community to assist us with labour and pay them. This helps to curb crime in the community,” she adds.
In their endevours, Ematolweni Coop has also been supported by Ntinga OR Tambo Development Agency, Kei Fresh Produce and Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform.
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