BOPHELONG. – School uniform manufacturing C-ooperatives have a potential of stimulating the economy and create jobs in townships.
This is according to Kgatelopele Co-operatives, long serving member and Chairperson, Germinah Motaung.
Kgatelopele manufactures school uniforms in Bophelong.

The cooperatives is funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development and was established in 1999, operating as a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) and later registered as Co-operative in 2001, after they got an order from the department to sew school uniforms for local schools.
“When we started, we were manufacturing curtains, bedding sets such as comforters, pillows and skirts for young girls in local schools. Their parents would come and buy from us because our prices were affordable and we were making good profit, said Motaung.
Motaung, 61, said that she is worried that young people in Bophelong do not take sewing serious and she wants to change the narrative that sewing is for older people.

“This is a skill that can take them places in their lifetimes if they take it serious.”

The 100 percent women owned Kgatelopele Co-operative currently employs eight people to assist with sewing, and amongst them is three young people. The Co-operative was recently allocated to manufacture 1538 school uniforms for 14 schools in Sedibeng. Mokoena said they have already completed 924 uniforms which are ready to be delivered. She said their main challenge is the payment delays that they continue to encounter with the government which sometimes causes friction with their staff.

26-year-old Flatha Mokoena who is one of the young people employed at Kgatelopele Co-operative said that she appreciates the opportunity to acquire sewing skills.
“I am grateful for the opportunity and I have learned so much since I joined. I always had a passion for sewing but didn’t know where I could get the skill and when Kgatelopele asked me to join them I grabbed the opportunity to acquire sewing skills with both hands” she said.