SUCCESSFUL SEWING CLUB EMERGES FROM ZIBAMBELE SAVINGS INITIATIVE

One of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport's prime objectives is to empower people to become independent business entrepreneurs. This objective is now being achieved as the Department's exemplary poverty alleviation programme for the unemployed in rural KwaZulu-Natal known as Zibambele, has started producing groups of successful business women. One such group is Izimbali Zasehlobo Trading Enterprise which is currently involved in a sewing business, specialising in making reflective vests for road workers which are sold at R25 each.

Izimbali Zasehlobo started as a result of money that was raised following the introduction of Zibambele Savings Clubs. The Saving Club concept has been spearheaded by the Department over the last two years and already millions of rands have been collectively saved by these clubs.

Members of the Zibambele road maintenance programme contribute a minimal amount each month from their monthly allowance that they earn for helping to keep the roads tidy.

Izimbali Zasehlobo Trading Enterprise (meaning 'Summer time flowers') is based at Maqongqo outside Pietermaritzburg. Thanks to government's socio-economic intervention programme, the group has literally transformed itself from being unemployed mothers to business entrepreneurs.

Izimbali started business in 2003 when the Zibambele members responded positively and enthusiastically to the Department's recommendation to save R20 a month from their income. By July 2004, Izimbali saved more than R20 000.

Mrs Greta Gcumisa, one of the members of Izimbali, said the group is made up of 52 members and was registered in November 2004. "Since we started we agreed that the only way to accumulate profit is through charging every member a fee of R5 for coming late or being absent," said Gcumisa.

"The department helped us tremendously in starting our business and transporting us to Durban to buy material. We started with three of our own machines from our homes because it was cheaper that way. We are hoping to buy more machines as time goes on and as the business picks up," said Gcumisa.

She added that some of them already had sewing skills so they did not need any training on sewing. But in every new business there are minor set-backs. What they experienced so far is that they cannot market themselves as yet because the business is still in its development stages. With the help of the KZN Department of Transport who has placed an order for 1000 vests, Izimbali is sure to be busy for the next few weeks.

"We are very grateful to the KZN Department of Transport for Zibambele. Our children are going to school, some of them even have matric and my daughter is going to College all because of Zibambele," Gcumisa said.
"We are hoping to grow our savings club business opportunities, not only through sewing but we are hoping to also start growing mushrooms and selling them. The KZN Transport Department has helped us to move from being unemployed to becoming employers," concluded Gcumisa.
 

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