Seshego factory to employ persons with disabilities

L abour Minister, Mildred Oliphant officially opened the Limpopo Supported Employment Enterprise (SEE) Factory that is designed to employ people living with disabilities at Seshego Industrial Park on Monday.
The facility aims to advance the employment of persons with disabilities and manufactures products such as office and school furniture, hospital clothes, office safes and gates, among others. The factory will accommodate persons who are physically challenged and intellectually, visually or hearing impaired.

Delivering her keynote address, Oliphant challenged department officials in top positions to pledge that they would go all out to seek more partnerships for the factory to make more sales. She further tasked them to donate two sewing machines to Grace and Hope Special School. Oliphant revealed that they have agreements with Departments of Education across the country for SEE factories to supply them with school furniture. She added that they have also agreed that repairs of such furniture has to be done by persons with disabilities.
“Furniture stores buy from SEE factories and triple the price when selling to customers hence it is advisable for our people to visit SEE factories first before buying at any other furniture store. We design a number of things including your most expensive coffins,” Oliphant explained.
Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet) MEC Seaparo Sekoati emphasised that the three industrial parks in Seshego, Nkowankowa and Lebowakgomo are some of their key projects. He went on to highlight that government recently spent about R40 million and R39 million to complete the first phases of Nkowankowa and Seshego industrial parks respectively. Sekoati said the Department of Trade and Industry set aside R140 million in the current financial year to revitalise industrial parks across the country. It was learnt that the factory would be a great breakthrough for learners in 34 special schools in Limpopo which cater for the four aforementioned disabilities.

Story & photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za