Laundry cooperative uplifts 11 local women
Members of local cooperative Bambisanani Bomama
The development of Gugulethu Colliery became an opportunity for a group of 11 determined women to turn their lives around. Xoliswa Mokoena, Deliwe Shelemba, Linah Mokoena and Siphiwe Mahlangu were among the women who formed the cooperative Bambisanani Bomama in 2023 to provide laundry services to the mine. Siphiwe, who initially applied for the laundry tender, was encouraged to involve others. “I was advised to form a cooperative so that more women could be empowered, not just me,” she says. The cooperative was named Bambisanani Bomama, meaning Women Working Together in isiZulu, a true reflection of how it was founded.
Siphiwe reached out to other women from the community which she connected with during public engagement meetings that took place in the early stages of the mine’s development. “Finding other women to join this cooperative was not difficult because we all knew each other from the meetings, and we shared similar challenges, which gave us a common bond,” Siphiwe says. Through Canyon Coal’s support the women were able to start their venture. The company provided working space, washing machines, dryers, and detergent. The cooperative is now responsible for laundry services related to the mine’s personal protective equipment (PPE).
The cooperative represents women from Davel and nearby farms like Mooivlei and De Wittekrans. Siphiwe says the opportunity has improved their lives. “Before, all the women, including myself, were unemployed, and some are even single mothers,” she remarks. Prior to forming the cooperative, Xoliswa earned a living as an informal vendor selling snacks and fruit. However, the flow of income was not stable. Sometimes, business was good, with many customers, but other times, it would be very slow, with little to no customers. “Although I was making some money, it was not sustainable. Being part of this cooperative has provided me and the other women with a sense of job security,” she says. Xoliswa and her colleagues plan to explore more business opportunities and expand into sewing
