Siphelele Nketo
A MATATIELE woman in the rural village of Sijoka, Thulisile Khawuleza (44), was once able to do things on her own. But her life changed mysteriously on the evening of May 9 when she survived a brutal attack that resulted in the amputation of her arm. Now she has to rely on others for most things, from cooking to bathing.
On that evening while enjoying supper with her family, suspects broke the door open and attacked seven family members with spears and a bush knife. They killed Nontokozo Khawuleza (35), a cousin-sister to Thulisile. Attackers further attempted to cut her thighs and head. She used her right arm to block a bush knife from attackers who tried to cut her head.
On Monday, August 31, executive mayor of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality Tsileng Sobuthongo was in Khawuleza’s home to hand over a fully-fledged trading facility as an intervention to assist Khawuleza.
It was reported that Khawuleza requested support in the form of a spaza shop since she has been unemployed. In response to her plea, the municipality in Alfred Nzo upgraded her trading space with security enhancements, shelving, a burglar-proof point-of-sale counter, lights, tubing, plug points, paint, a refrigerator, tiling, ceiling installation, concrete slab, signage, a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, first-aid kit and initial stock.
Mayor Sobuthongo pledged that the municipality would facilitate support for the establishment of the spaza shop through municipal economic development programmes.
“The intervention is aimed at creating a sustainable income-generating opportunity for Khawuleza rather than providing once-off relief,” said Sobuthongo, adding that the municipality’s strategic objective is to increase ownership, competitiveness and sustainability of locally based entrepreneurs in the retail economy.
Sobuthongo further said that this is pursued through lawful and non-discriminatory economic development measures that improve the capacity of local businesses to compete, grow, create livelihoods and retain a greater share of local consumer spending within the district.
“This intervention also speaks to our broader retail development programme. We want more of our people to become owners and competitive participants in the local economy. Women, young people, persons with disabilities and vulnerable members of our communities must have practical pathways into entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods,” she said.
The municipality’s intervention has been applauded as a way to retain hope and opportunity for Khawuleza to be able to rebuild her life through entrepreneurship. Khawuleza expressed her appreciation when receiving the spaza shop.
