Having identified a gap in the local building market, a small group of women, from the Mmakau
community, Madibeng Local Municipal area, taught themselves how to make bricks so that they could
offer a supply for RDP houses and other community building projects. They then formalised their vision
by setting up the ‘Moagi Women Development Primary Cooperative’ and are now, with the help of
development funding, able to produce over 2 000 bricks a day.
“We like this kind of work as we are earning a living whilst working towards reducing tin shacks in our
village, plus it feels good to excel in a space that is more commonly dominated by men,” said Tabea Seema,
General Manager at the Moagi Women Development Primary Cooperative.
These women are planning to expand their production, so that they can supply local hardware companies,
in addition to accommodating local community trade. With this increased trade, their goal is to hire six
more workers this year.
“This is an amazing example of resilience and foresight. The Maogi Co–Op, which started out with half a
bag of cement and a brick mould that produced just one single brick at a time, now has the equipment and
skill to produce thousands of units each day, plus they are even able to provide work to other local
community women, sharing the skills and knowledge that they have gathered over the years,” said Celiwe
Mabaso, Community Operations Manager for De Wildt Solar, who funded a shaded working area to create a
resting space for the women who work in the tough outdoor weather conditions. This shaded working area
has also created a space for the Co-Op workers to set-up their machinery, which was donated by other
funders.
De Wild Solar’s Enterprise Development Programme is aimed at helping small enterprises, such as this
Co-Op, to accelerate sustainable growth. It directly benefits communities of Brits, Mmakau, Mothotlung,
Lethlabile, Ga-Rankuwa and surrounding areas within a 50km radius of the solar project, through Economic
Development projects. These projects include training and accelerator programmes, skills development
training and other welfare initiatives.
