Local crafters help win best commercial hall display at Royal Show
Cato Ridge crafters display their crafts at Royal Show.
The KwaZulu-Natal Financial Literacy Village Market, in hall one at the Royal Agricultural Show, was awarded the prize for the Best Commercial Hall Display.
The hall comprises a ‘spaza’ shop and 25 market stalls, selling fresh produce, handmade garments, craft and processed products – with items such as pickled vegetables, soaps, bags, cocktail gowns, jewellery, jams, fresh herbs and portraits on sale.
One of the stalls in the Literacy Village Market is that of crafters, Winile Gcabashe and Khombswe Majola from Cato Ridge, who are part of the Zimele initiative, which develops community self-reliance. They make crafts, décor and jewellery items using felt, beads and fabric to make pencil cases, pouches, necklaces, dolls, bags, keyrings and decorated pens.
Prior to the show, the women attended a finance course at the Pietermaritzburg Business Chamber to learn about pricing and costing; record and book-keeping; productivity; selling and communication; and how to manage their own personal finances.
The initiative is a partnership between The KwaZulu-Natal Financial Literacy Assotiation and Provincial Treasury, the Pietermaritzburg Business Chamber, the KZN Department of Agricultural and Rural Development, Msunduzi Municipality, Zimele Developing Community Self-Reliance, Isolezwe, Ithala Development Finance Corporation, Inkombandlela Accountants, Old Mutual, Productivity SA and Amalgamated Tobacco Manufacturing (PTY) LTD.
The Village Market, which runs until 7 June at the Royal showground, will host a range of activities: Zulu dancing, demonstrations on yoghurt making, different ways of cooking oyster mushrooms and sweet potatoes, and wine tasting. The shops are open for business from 9am until 6pm during weekdays and on Sunday from 9am until 8pm.
