Every year, in August, our country marks Women’s Month, when we pay tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.
This year’s commemoration will be held under the theme: “The year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke: Realising Women’s Rights”.
Sibusiso Chauke from Gauteng Department of Social Development says government has made significant progress in empowering women in the political, public and educational spheres, but the marginalization of poor women severely compromises progress.
“Gauteng Departments of Social Development (GDSD) strive to empower more women through funding their businesses across the province,” says Chauke.
Chauke says Modipakoma Sewing and Multi-Purpose Primary Cooperative is one of the women owned.
“It continues to inspire more women in the community. Situated in Kagiso Extension 12 in the West Rand and funded by Gauteng Department of Social Development, it aims for greater heights as it expands on service offering,” he said.
Its management team is determined on creating employment for the community members through their business. The cooperative manufactures clothes and school uniform.
“Our organisation was established in 2016 after we saw Gauteng Department of Social Development assisting lot of cooperatives to be part of School Uniform Manufacturing Project. Following the establishment of our cooperative, we started manufacturing traditional clothes for people around our community”, said a member of management Tebora Panama.
Panama said it was not easy when they started five years ago, as they did not have knowledge of running a business.
Chauke says women independency is one of the vital measures to fight social ills in the society because some get trapped in abusive relationships due to poverty. “Gauteng Department of Social Development will continue empowering women for the role they play in communities,”
