The Department of Trade and Industry has an incentive for primary co-operatives.

The aim of the incentive scheme is to promote co-operatives through the provision of a matching grant, improve the viability and competitiveness of co-operative enterprises by lowering the cost of doing business, assist co-operatives to acquire their start up requirements, Build an initial asset base for emerging co-operatives to enable them to leverage other support, and provide an incentive that supports broad-based black economic empowerment.

Eligible entities should be incorporated and registered in South Africa in terms of the Co-operatives Act of 1991. Be operating or will operate in the emerging sector, Adhere to co-operative principles. Be an emerging co-operative owned by historically disadvantaged individuals. Be rural and semi-urban biased. Be biased towards women, youth and people with disability.

Qualifying criteria for the incentive scheme: Business development services, Business profile development, Feasibility studies / market research, Production efficiency, Technological improvement projects, Plants and machinery, Start-up requirements, Working capital requirements.

Women, the youth and people with disabilities are encouraged to form corporatives and gain independence and this incentive is there to support their initiatives. Its for everybody and this is a big opportunity. For more information and applications please contact The dti KZN Regional Office, 136 Margaret Mncadi, Corner Fenton Lane, 031 305 3389

On the 27^th of August, a number of women from Eshowe gathered together to celebrate womanhood and share empowering information about themselves. They came out looking beautiful and were there to make a statement, that they may be from a small town but through working together they can reach the heights.  Presented by Mrs Nkosi, information about the body and soul of a new woman. They spoke about this new woman created by the society, created by the improvement of technology and this new woman who lives in a country that is biased to women empowerment. Pastor Zungu from CFCI Eshowe was there talking about a spiritual woman, on how a woman needs to add flavor wherever she is, because we all came to earth with our own special flavor, we are not meant to be uniform. We enjoyed the company of everywoman. Next year we are inviting you in advance. In the absence of women, the world would crumble.

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