Silokotho Primary Cooperative is a black owned cooperative producing – personal protective equipment and technical textile products. This cooperative was established in Umlazi in 2011 by five cooperative members (three females and two males), who were responding to the unemployment challenge in the township as well as the issue of orphaned children because of the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Silokotho currently employs thirty people (predominantly youth) from the Umlazi township. The cooperative is now ready to grow and get its own clients, source its own materials and penetrate new markets.

The National Development Agency (NDA) has funded Silokotho Primary Cooperative with R479 836.50 to purchase equipment and machinery that would enable them to infiltrate bigger and more established markets. Some companies in Durban have expressed interest of working with Silokotho once there is capacity to produce at the required scale. The NDA wants to ensure that Silokotho reaches the scale required by the market and increases its infrastructure capacity. 

‘’We are here today as part of the mandate of the NDA to make sure they support cooperatives to help us eradicate poverty in South Africa. The NDA is helping us realise the objective of government to create sustainable jobs. We want our people to get support from government for them to create sustainable livelihoods and Silokotho is doing that. They are employing young people and have expansion plans that will also see them grow and expand to bigger markets and employ more people,’’ Ms Lindiwe Zulu.

The Minister earlier in her Budget Vote speech had indicated that the NDA would be allocated R219 million in the budget to ensure that Civil Society Organisations (including cooperatives) are supported in their quest to enhance government’s objective of poverty eradication in South Africa. The Minister indicated the importance of NDA supporting government’s efforts towards job creation:

‘’ As companies are scaling down or shutting down their operations, the NDA will be creating 3 000 work opportunities in the current financial year. Out of these, 2 300 will be created through the implementation of the Volunteer Programme which will be funded through the Presidential Employment Stimulus Package.”

The NDA is committed in working towards creating jobs and supporting cooperatives such as Silokotho that will ensure that the strategy towards job creation produces sustainable jobs and supports the empowerment of women and youth. Furthermore, the NDA acknowledges that this can only be achieved if government, civil society and business continue to form partnerships that will yield sustainable results. 

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Media inquiries may be forwarded to Mr Lonwabo Ganelo 073 295 0547 lonwabog@nda.org.za

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY