Women Entrepreneurship Projects

Limpopo Projects

Supporting sustainable women-led agricultural, farming, bakery and craft projects in Limpopo Province.

1. Kodumela Egg Production

Kodumela Egg Production is situated in Elandskraal in the Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality. The enterprise was established in 2000 and is comprised of five women. The chickens produce eggs that are sold to the community and local shops. The group also produces vegetables by using droppings from the chickens as fertiliser. The Trust facilitated technical support for the enterprise from Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture. The College regularly provides practical skills in egg production to the members.

2. Mafato A Bogkwale Bakery

Mafato A Bokgwale Bakery was established in 1991, with six members from Tsimanyane village in Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality. The enterprise bakes bread, buns, scones, vetkoek and provides catering services. They sell their products at the local hospital (Matlala Hospital) and to the community. The Trust provided baking equipment, ingredients and refurbished their structure.

3. Reamogetse Thakgalang Brickmaking

Reamogetse Thakgalang Brickmaking was established in 1999. They are based in Mabitsi B Village, Ga-Rakgoadi in the Ephraim Mogale Municipality. The enterprise consists of seven members, producing block bricks, selling river sand, and ploughing fields. In 2021, the Trust purchased a TLB, tipper truck, brickmaking machines, structure, concrete mixer, and material for the enterprise to support in increasing their production. The group supplies bricks to the community and construction contractors in the region. The Trust is partnered with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to provide technical support and ensure the business meets all necessary compliance requirements to obtain SABS accreditation.

4. Rehlakile Crafts

Rehlakile Beads Project was established in 2007 by a group of 22 women who have an amazing talent in bead work . They are currently 16 members making beaded accessories inspired by the Ndebele culture and selling locally and once a week in Johannesburg in Rosebank, Bruma. The project is situated in the village of Pieterskraal under Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality of Nkangala District. The project also produces accessories for a London based company called Pink Mango which specialises in fashion brands..

5. Tswelopele Bakery

Tswelopele Bakery was established in early 2000 and was formerly known as Phela o Pheditse Bakery. They have six members and are located in Moganyaka village in the Ephraim Mogale Municipality. They bake buns, bread and vetkoek. They sell their goods to the local clinic, community, school, and shops. The Trust is collaborating with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to provide technical support and ensure the business meets all necessary compliance requirements to operate formally.

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Mpumalanga Projects

Supporting sustainable women-led agricultural, and beekeeping projects in Mpumalanga Province.

1. Thandokuhle Beekeeping

The enterprise is situated in Mkhondo Local Municipality in Mpumalanga with 5 members working in it. It is a beekeeping enterprise which produces honey from the bees, polish and candles from the beeswax.

2. Vukuzakhe Garden

The enterprise is situated in Mkhondo Local Municipality with 12 members in the group. The enterprise produces vegetables from their garden and sells to the community.

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KwaZulu-Natal Projects

Supporting sustainable women-led agricultural, sewing and craft projects in KZN Province.

1. Ingono Agri-Projects

Having started in 2013 with eight women, this organic farming co-operative moved from two gardens to four gardens, ensuring they have a bigger footprint in their community and surrounding areas. They are situated in Clermont,Chesterville, Tafelkop and Lindelani. The projects supply nine kitchens that cater for four hundred elderly persons on a daily bases. They now have their own nursery where they produce seedlings. All this was possible through Nozala Trust funding.

2. Lamontville Sewing Project

The Muthande Sewing Group is situated in Lamontville in the eThekwini Municipality. The enterprise was established in 1995 as one of the activities of the Muthande Society of the Aged’s service centres. It currently has 4 members who produce school uniforms, work wear and other clothing.

3. Nomfungile Women Upliftment Organisation

The organisation is situated in Hammansdale in the eThekwini Municipality. The enterprise has five members producing beadwork, traditional Zulu attire and provides basic sewing skills to youth in the area. Nozala Trust supported the project by providing a converted container from which the project could run and sewing machines. The project has trained more than 100 youth in basic sewing skills to become employable.

4. Mathonsi Simunye

Mathonsi Simunye has been operating since 1992. The group has ten members who produce traditional Zulu attire and beadwork. The enterprise is situated in Mandeni in the Mandeni Municipality. In 2022, the group produced Zulu love letters for Pink Mango, London-based company. The project has trained more than fifty women and other groups in bead making. Nozala Trust assisted the women with purchasing 2 containers to work from.

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Gauteng Projects

Supporting sustainable women-led agricultural, sewing, crafts and community projects in Gauteng Province.

1. Kwaze Kwasa Day Care

Kwaze Kwasa Day Care is an early childhood development centre based in Katlehong. The creche hopes to become the primary feeding school to Katlehong Primary School, with a fully equipped grade R Class. Kwaze Kwasa Day Care has received support from Nozala Trust in the form of training for the staff and donations to improve the school’s facilities. Bespoke training provided to Kwaze Kwasa Day Care was provided to ensure the school reaches commercial viability through the improvement of facilities and general standards.

2. Lefika Labasadi

Lefika Labasadi is based in central Johannesburg and has seven members. It is classified as a legacy project and was established in 2016 out of one of Ma Bertha Gxowa’s projects – Malibongwe Youth Empowerment. It is a woman and youth empowerment organisation and a registered NPO 100% run by black women. It aims to improve family stability by equipping women with necessary skills for empowerment. The organisation provides legal support to women and youth who have been victims of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. They continue to mobilise women and the youth to attend workshops and fight against gender-based violence. Lefika LaBasadi has registered as a cooperative to formalise their various income generating activities, which include the manufacturing of bags. This project has received tailored training and support. They have established a niche market locally and abroad (Canada) for their laptop bags and backpacks made with African print fabrics. This has allowed them to empower victims with a skill and generate income for the running of the NPO.

3. Mamelo Garden

Mamelo is a vegetable garden based in Katlehong and has nine members. It was established in 2018 to produce and provide fresh organic produce in Ekurhuleni. This project aims to play a role in creating sustainable jobs and promoting healthy eating in peri-urban Gauteng. This enterprise continues to receive dedicated technical support and guidance on market access opportunities.

4. Vuseleli Themba Bead Making

This a social club project for the elderly based in Katlehong. It is one of the Bertha Gxowa Foundation’s long standing projects. This project has eleven members that meet weekly and make various items ranging including shoes, blankets and beadwork. They sell to churches, local customers, teachers and nurses.

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Eastern Cape Projects

Supporting sustainable women-led farming, sewing and craft projects in Eastern Cape Province.

1. Buhlebezwe Projects

An enterprise situated in the Ndlambe Local Municipality district in the Eastern Cape. Buhlebezwe comprises of 10 women who do beadwork and crafts.

2. Thembelani Shoe Manufacturers

An enterprise situated in the Nelson Mandela Bay Local Municipality district in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape. Thembelani comprises of 13 women who make these shoes.

3. Nonkuthalo Poultry

The enterprise produces chickens and eggs, which they sell to the community and neighbouring towns.

4. Nokuxhotjiswa Co Op

An enterprise situated in the Ndlambe Local Municipality district, who specialise in decorating pot plants with sea shells, varnishing, polishing and selling.

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North West Projects

Supporting sustainable women-led sewing uniforms for schools and community, and craft projects in North WestProvince.

1. Ipopeng Crafts

The enterprise comprises of 14 women from the Madibeng Local Municipality in the North West province. The enterprise was established in 2004. They produce wire baskets, crafts, cups, dishes, wall mats and artificial flowers.

2. Women Fusion in Sewing

Enterprise is situated in the Madibeng Local Municipality region and is co-financed by Eqstra/MCC. The enterprise was established in 2012. There are 4 women that work together to produce school uniforms, linen, work wear and other clothing.