Hleziphi Mudau

A traders co-op in Diepsloot

Co-operative to uplift women entrepreneurs
By Hleziphi Mudau

Five women in Diepsloot have combined their skills to form an independent self-help co-operative called Siyizana. The women consist of a retired community worker, a former domestic worker and three spaza shop owners. The project would be operated from the midst of Diepsloot.
The organization’s spokesperson, Lindelwa Banda says there are many women in Diepsloot who commute almost every week to Randburg and Alexandra to stock merchandise for resale. Bands says the co-operative seeks to end the long distances that these women encounter in their bid to provide for their families.
The project is set to provide most of the products that are sold on the street pavements and spaza shops. Banda says that instead of travelling up and down, traders would be getting stock from the co-operative, which she says would supply most of the common goodies like peanuts, vegetables, bakery produce and other stuff. She says that those who wish to join the co-operative would be trained in basic business skills.
“ Our aim is to the marginalised social entrepreneurs into successful business people, who in turn would be able to give back to their communities a thousand fold.”
Betina Mhlanga one of the founder members of the project adds that the co-operative has already negotiated terms on the products that they would need most.
“The response we got was huge and supportive, delivery would be done by most of our suppliers and that would make our people’s small businesses even easier and more profitable, “ she adds.
Mhlanga says the idea of a co-operative is to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit among township women. “ The co-operative would also negotiate consignment basis with local vendors in order to allow everyone to participate in poverty alleviation.”
She says the project will provide a platform of networking and creation of more opportunities for women. Though many of the women targeted by Siyasizana are believed to have little or no knowledge about real business issues, the organisation’s members are optimistic that it is a matter of time before Diepsloot is haven of successful entrepreneurs.
They say they would acquire initiatives, which will inspire women in the upliftment of their skills and encourage them to attend business workshops that the organisation plans to put in place as soon as the project begins early next year. Women who would show great potential of business ownership would be referred to other bigger institutions, wher they could get more exposure.

posted by Dug @ 11:36 a. m.