Women-owned bakeries in rural South Africa gain support from government, business community

South Africa, June 2014 - The first of ten planned rural bakeries owned and managed by local black women has started operations in KwaMhlanga, north of Pretoria, South Africa. Aimed to provide fresh, quality bread at affordable prices to consumers, it also empowers women by training them to become successful business owners. With strong focus on giving back to the communities, these women-managed bakeries each creates at least twenty jobs for residents of the local communities.

Borotho Ba Rena (translated as “our bread”) bakery project has been designed and planned as community upliftment initiative, with funding support from Nedbank. Started by TIPS-South Africa (a project of the United Nations Development Programme), the bakery project has already gained support from government, NGOs and the business sector. Organizations such as the Small Enterprise Development Association (SEDA), Reach Africa, accounting firm Gordon & Partners, Ecozimes and White River Flour Mills also play active role in ensuring the success of the project.

The bakery project is being implemented closely with schools  in the  community. The school officials assist in identifying        child-headed       families    and          children who would qualify to receive their bread allotment daily. Since the introduction of this initiative, several Borotho Ba Rena partners, including pre-mix supplier Ecozimes, flour provider White River Flour Mills and motoring company DFSK, have pledged their support to  this venture. In  addition, several     organizations are involved in giving further assistance to the children. Evangelism Explosion South Africa, for example, supports these children with advice and encouragement to strengthen their spiritual and emotional values.

“Without the community, I will not be able to succeed therefore, I believe it is important also to give back to the community,” says owner MakomaKekana. “There are so many hungry children in our communities. By helping them, I believe we can make a difference.” Borotho Ba Rena KwaMhlanga will support around 800 needy children in their communities daily. The other planned bakeries will do the same for the children in their respective areas.

 Borotho Ba Rena project is based on four pillars: food security; upliftment of women; job creation; and engagement of the community.  All are priorities of the South African government.

According to Nermala Reddy, senior manager of Nedbank Limited’s Enterprise Development    Division “Sustainable opportunities  that   transform   job   seekers into job  creators  are limited in the current  economic  environment.  The collaboration between Nedbank and Borotho Ba  Rena  offers   an  innovative   approach   to  job  creation, stimulating economic activity and creating stronger sustainable communities and households.”