Strong women do it for themselves
Hope was restored to a group of female cooperatives in the area following the recent launch of the South African Women Entrepreneurs' Network (Sawen) as part of the Mpumalanga chapter. The organisation aims to empower women from rural areas.
MKHUHLU – Most women in rural areas still live below the poverty line, are unemployed and are running small businesses for a living.
However, finding markets to sell their products still remains a concern. Coming from such a background did not discourage a number of females of Mkhuhlu and surrounding villages from carrying their huge bags and baskets full of handwork from walking around in the streets to sell their products.
Mpumalanga News learnt that being near to the Kruger National Park also helped them to sell most of their products to tourists, especially during busy tiems like Christmas holidays. “This also needed some luck as there is too much competition among the local women and some end up selling products at very cheap prices,” explained Ms Rose Tshaka of the Tivumbeleni Shirilele Community Project.
Tshaka and two friends said they had been doing their business as individuals until 2003 when they decided to form a cooperative. “We try hard to put food on the table for our families, but it’s very hard since we don’t have a reliable markets to sell our products. We even travel for days, leaving our families behind, to other areas like Pretoria, the Free State, KwaNdebele and other areas to sell our goods,” she continued.
Co-owners of another business run by two young women from the area, which specialises in traditional clothing and beadwork, echoed what Tshaka said about the difficulties they faced to locate a market for their products.
However, hope was restored to a group of female cooperatives in the area following the recent launch of the South African Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (Sawen) as part of the Mpumalanga chapter. The organisation aims to empower women from rural areas.
“Sawen facilitates and monitors the socio-economic advancement of women entrepreneurs and their positive impact on the country’s economy. We also identify market opportunities for them where they can showcase their products both in the private and public sector,” explained
Ms Magauta Ngoetjane, Sawen’s operations manager.
