At the helm of Skhona Co-operative Limited is Nomakosazana Jennifer Jayiya, affectionately known as Sis Khosi, a respected fashion designer, crafter, and mentor whose journey reflects the power of women s entrepreneurship when supported by the right resources. A graduate of Natal Technikon, she has trained and mentored numerous MSMEs through the Eastern Cape Development Corporation s (ECDC), an entity of the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT), Creative Industries Programme, earning a reputation for her creativity, business acumen, and commitment to community upliftment.

Under her leadership, the Cooperative, based in Komani Industrial Park under Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, has grown into a dynamic manufacturer of school wear, protective clothing, children s wear, traditional attire, formal wear, and custom embroidery and fabric printing. The business, made up of five members, with one accredited by the Fibra Processing and Manufacturing Sector Education and Training authorities (FP&M SETA), has become a local economic driver.

With a total of R650 000 in funding from the Imvaba Co-operative Fund, Skhona Cooperative has sustained and created 11 jobs, retaining 5 permanent positions and adding 6 more. Of these, 8 positions are filled by women and 2 by youth. The cooperative has also trained 39 interns through accredited programmes, implemented ISO 9001:2015 quality standards, developed a bankable business profile, and invested in critical capital infrastructure.

These milestones reflect the mandate and priorities of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, to build an inclusive economy that creates jobs and reduces poverty, with a deliberate focus on the urgent need to empower women as key drivers of sustainable and equitable development in the province.

For Ms Jayiya, the success of Skhona Co-operative is more than a business achievement, it s the realisation of a vision to empower others. Her transition from an individual designer to the director of a growing manufacturing enterprise shows how women, when equipped with funding, training, and infrastructure, can lead industries, create jobs, and inspire communities. Her story is proof that when women rise, communities prosper.