Local women urged to cultivate own gardens
Unemployed women can still maintain their families without relying on government grants.
MSOGWABA – Members of the Vuka Make uye Emasimini club urged women in the province to cultivate gardens in order to fight poverty and unemployment.
The group consists of elderly church members of the local Alliance Church, who regularly meet to pray for God’s intervention in the abuse of women and children, drugs and alcohol among the youth and for the sustainability of families as well as other problems in the area.
After their prayer sessions they rolled up their sleeves to till the soil of their field where they planted different kinds of vegetables for their homes and also sell the surplus to the community.
At times they cook meals for the needy children.
Members believe that unemployed women can still maintain their families without relying on government grants.
“As unemployed women we can do something without depending on government even in places like ours where crime is so prevalent. If we unite, use our hands to till the soil and do hand labour we can feed our families and fight poverty,” said gogo Marble Zwane.
She continued to say that their background and diseases which are associated with old age holds them back from working and making a difference in the community.
“Being uneducated couldn’t hinder us from succeeding in life. If you wanna be blessed bring tithes and offerings to the church,” she added.
The event was also attended by the Pienaar police who urged parents to report perpetrators of rape and any other forms of violence and abuse against women and children.
“Help us by reporting all the cases to the police, we had also adopted a slogan “Silekeleleni bomake silwe nebugebengu,” which simply means that women should help police in the fight against crime,” said Lt Jabu Ndubane.
The MEC for culture, sports and recreation, Sibongile Manana talked about the need to instil values and morals in the youth as well as respecting elders.
The event was also attended by fieldworkers from the Department of Trade and Industry (Dti) who talked at length about the R350 000 in the Co-operative Incentive Scheme which is available to to cooperatives if they meet requirements,
which include being incorporated and registered in South Africa in terms of the Co-operatives Act of 2005. These must be an emerging cooperative with a majority of black ownership.
Attendees were also taught on different health and psychology issues by a psychological expert Ms OJ Sibanyoni. It was also graced by the presence of Inkhosikati Ethel Nkhosi from Msogwaba Trust’s Chieftaincy.
For more information on the Dti’s Cooperative Incentive Scheme contact Silvia Mahlangu on 084-309-9010
