×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Villager turns fat into business

IN THE POUND SEATS: Kopanang Primary Agricultural Cooperative founder and chairwoman Motlalepule Moroeng Photo: Supplied
IN THE POUND SEATS: Kopanang Primary Agricultural Cooperative founder and chairwoman Motlalepule Moroeng Photo: Supplied

A WOMAN from Gopane village near Zeerust in North West never thought she could turn the rubbish that people normally throw away into a moisturising soap and land herself a week-long business trip to Malawi.

Motlalepule Moroeng, founder and chairwoman of Kopanang Primary Agricultural Cooperative is one of two South African business women nominated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to undertake an excursion to Malawi.

A while ago, Moroeng suffered a leg injury and had to leave her job as a cleaner. While unemployed, Moroeng sold offal.

She was concerned about the fat she was throwing away after cleaning the offal and discovered that she could actually transform it into a gentle and moisturising soap.

Moroeng, who barely completed her primary education, started to manufacture soap using the indigenous method of using animal fat two years ago.

Before she knew it, her idea had quickly expanded into a successful business that manufactures and distributes soap throughout and outside North West.

In August she won the North West Female Entrepreneur Award and went home with R1.7-million worth of infrastructure support.

North West department of agriculture and environmental affairs spokesman, Mongezi Goliath, said the reason for the trip to Malawi was to expose her to innovative marketing trends so as to help them market their products internationally.

The ILO is one of 18 United Nations agencies that support the implementation of the Eight Millennium Development Goals globally through decent work in a bid to reduce vulnerability to HIV/Aids along transport corridors of southern Africa.

Goliath said the department sought to strengthen local support structures to build economic resilience through the provision of economic development and HIV/Aids support services to informal and vulnerable workers.

The ILO organisation has been supporting eight projects across South Africa.

These include business skills training, mentorship, business development services and organising men and women into formal structures such as cooperatives and farmers' organisations.

tshehleb@sowetan.co.za

 

For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays

 

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.