QALEKHAYA SHINING STAR COOPERATIVE ADVANCES RURAL WOMEN AND YOUTH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN KWAZULU-NATAL

Ma Rose Mthembu, Treasurer at Qalekhaya on walk about

By Lesego Ranchu

• The Qalekhaya Shining Star Cooperative demonstrates how sustained investment in rural enterprises can drive job creation, skills development, and community upliftment.
• Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe stated during her visit to the Cooperative that, with appropriate resources and support, rural women and youth have the capacity to establish sustainable enterprises that contribute to community transformation.
• Targeted initiatives, including support for survivors of gender-based violence and household food security projects, position the Cooperative as a model for inclusive rural development.

Qalekhaya Shining Star Cooperative (QSSC), a women-led rural enterprise based in Ezindophi Village under the uMlalazi Local Municipality, continues to demonstrate how sustainable community development can transform lives through skills development, job creation, and meaningful social impact.

Established in 2005 and formally registered in 2007, the Cooperative was founded by five community members from a deep rural area with a shared vision to combat poverty, unemployment and gender-based violence (GBV) through economic empowerment. Today, QSSC operates across clothing and furniture manufacturing, as well as food security initiatives, with a strong focus on unemployed women, youth, and survivors of GBV.

With strategic support from the National Development Agency, the Cooperative has significantly expanded its production capacity and strengthened its operational resilience. In 2021, funding from the Agency enabled the acquisition of critical equipment, including a three-phase generator to ensure business continuity, as well as support for the production of school desks, benches, and coffins supplied to local schools and communities.

Further support facilitated the implementation of a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Volunteer Programme, which strengthened household-level engagement. This intervention led to the establishment of the One-Home-One-Garden Project, aimed at improving household food security, and laid the foundation for the Shining Star Community Development initiative, which addresses GBV and related social challenges.

The Cooperative reached another milestone when the Agency approved funding for sewing equipment to support the economic empowerment of GBV survivors through skills training, enterprise development, and mentorship. This programme further positions QSSC as a hub for inclusive rural development and long-term sustainability.

“We have not only heard, but seen the proof that when rural women and youth are given the right tools and support, they can build sustainable enterprises that change entire communities,” said Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe, during her oversight visit to the Cooperative.
Despite these achievements, the Cooperative continues to face challenges, particularly related to infrastructure expansion and road access, which limit its ability to reach its full economic potential. Beneficiaries, however, expressed appreciation for the skills transfer, discipline, and support received, emphasising passion, focus, and personal responsibility as key drivers of success.
“I have successfully completed the sewing programme and can now produce full garments. I have also started assisting other women to reach my level. I am now able to sew garments for others and earn an income,” said Phumzile Khoza.

The Minister further emphasised the importance of accountability in the utilisation of public funds, strengthened oversight, and the replication of successful development models to address poverty and unemployment. The Cooperative has been recognised as a high-performing initiative by the Mayoral Committee and the local Traditional Authority. The Minister also committed to engaging further once a progress report is submitted to support the Cooperative’s continued growth and development.

The centre benefits from multiple partnerships, including KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, the Department of Rural Development, the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, and the Department of Social Development, reinforcing a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to rural development.