Skills centre opens in Nzalabantu

On the 23 February 2015 Vukusebenze Sewing Centre in Nzalabantu was launched. This paves the way for unemployed residents to acquire essential skills and to become self-sufficient. This is a boost for the township of KwaMbonambi, which has been plagued by poverty and high levels of unemployment for many years.

There are many women who are the sole breadwinners for their families within the community. In a bid to combat these challenges and fast track community development, the uMfolozi Local Municipality in conjunction with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs saw the need to invest in skilled women who can make a huge difference.

The municipality has been able to provide a platform for training such women to sew and knit, to make garments they can be proud to sell. The 64.6m² centre offers skills training in sewing and it has employed five local woman, Thembekile Khumalo who heads the centre, Lindiwe Mathonsi, Lungile Mngoma, Sbonile Mtshali, Sbongile Mbuyazi and Mbali Xaba who is currently a student.

Speaking at the launch of the centre, the Mayor Cllr SW Mgenge said that it is of great importance that the uMfolozi Municipality and other parties concerned build centres like this where crafters from different areas and sectors can meet and work as a collective producing all kind of products. “This will contribute to the development of the province, fighting poverty and unemployment and will also aid in encouraging tourism within uMfolozi. With this new centres being inaugurated it is hoped that our people will have more prospects in this district. The Mayor also urged the community to look after this structure and the equipment,” he said.