Some women in the Southern District are among beneficiaries who continue to tap into government programmes that aim at eradicating poverty.
One of them is 70-year-old Ms Tshepo Tokong of Kokong, who trades in motlopi cereal and coffee.
Ms Tokong said she started producing motlopi coffee in 2011 and had since added motlopi cereal to her products, adding that the powdered cereal could be consumed with milk for a taste.
The pensioner, who said she used the traditional kika to pound the motlopi roots to fine powder, also indicated optimism in the sale of her product.
She said she went for training at the National Food Technology and Research Centre (NAFTRC) on food processing and packaging.
She was now awaiting a machine that would help her produce and package her two products.She also said her coffee had been given a clean bill by NAFTRC and that she was still working on packaging the product and improving her workshop.
“The good thing is that motlopi tree is abundant in my area and I usually make good business during open markets and expos,” she said.
Although they said profit was still low, the group said it was determined to be a leader in the toilet paper industry.
The group’s secretary Ms Bontle Sethibe said they had established a market in brigades around the country and were in negotiations with other entities like councils to supply them.
“There is hope in this business and we have six youth in this group who are active and love the business.
We are still growing our brand and we hope that with intensified marketing, we will be able to make the desired profit to sustain our families,” she said.