The Shoprite Group, in partnership with Taking Care of Business, have enabled two unemployed men from Cape Town to establish their own appliance repair businesses.
Andre Zaaiman (45) from Delft and Bulelani Magaguli (38) from Khayelitsha joined Taking Care of Business’ Repair Programme, previously known as The Appliance Bank, after falling on hard times. Zaaiman was retrenched in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Magaguli, who moved from the Eastern Cape in pursuit of a better life, struggled to find a steady job. Watch their inspiring stories here.
The Repair Programme trains unemployed men to repair broken, damaged or faulty small appliances, which they can then sell for a profit. The men also receive extensive financial, business and life-skills training, as well as coaching and mentoring.
Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets have, since inception of the partnership in 2017, donated damaged appliances valued at more than R18 million – with more than R4 million being in the last financial year – to the Repair Programme to assist men like Zaaiman and Magaguli successfully run their own businesses.
“Shoprite and the Repair Programme gave me a reason to wake up in the morning. I was so close to giving up,” says Magaguli.
Zaiman agrees: “I felt helpless when I lost my job, but through this opportunity I have been able to setup my own business and continue providing for my family. Shoprite and the Repair Programme have given me a second chance in life. I cannot put into words how grateful I am.”
“My business flourished during the national lockdown, because most people were cash-strapped and couldn’t afford new appliances. This opportunity has changed my life. Not only can I continue providing for my family, but I have discovered my passion,” adds Magaguli.
Both men wish to expand their businesses and create jobs for other men in their communities, so that they too can pay it forward.
“This initiative has a significant socio-economic impact on our communities, and it also supports a circular economy by preventing damaged appliances from ending up in landfills,” said Sanjeev Raghubir, Sustainability Manager for the Shoprite Group.
