Young Vhembe entrepreneurs craft better future
Limpuma Furniture empowers young people in rural areas, providing employment and skills transfer while crafting high-quality wooden pieces.
LIMPOPO – Young people from Vhulaudzi Tshitavha village near Louis Trichardt in Vhembe district are shaping a brighter future through the Limpuma Furniture Cooperative.
This innovative group crafts a wide range of wooden furniture, including beds, chairs, coffee tables, kitchen units, podiums, benches, and school desks.
The cooperative name, Limpuma, combines Limpopo and Mpumalanga, reflecting the regions they serve.
With a commitment to high-quality craftsmanship, Limpuma Furniture Cooperative supplies local furniture shops, sells directly to the public, and creates custom pieces to order.
Chairperson Mpho Neluheni said they specialise in top-quality, unique wooden furniture for home and office use, with a focus on custom-built wall and kitchen units.
“Our mission is to offer a platform for the development of previously disadvantaged individuals, providing meaningful employment and building local and international partnerships.”
Limpuma Furniture Cooperative prides itself on producing bespoke items from hand-picked wood chosen by customers.
The cooperative aims to transfer valuable skills to young people in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, especially those in rural areas. They also offer cutting and edging services for other carpenters.
After operating from a community centre since 2015, the cooperative is set to expand with a new workshop.
This growth comes as a result of successful participation in state programmes and government support.
“We are grateful to the National Youth Development Agency for providing equipment and machinery, and Safcol for supplying raw materials and protective clothing,” Neluheni said.
The cooperative supplies local communities, schools, churches, resorts, lodges and shops. In June 2019, they won second prize in the Vhembe Youth in Business Competition, earning R60 000.
Looking ahead, Limpuma plans to ensure that every household in South Africa has a Limpuma Furniture product and aims to open branches nationwide within the next seven years.
