GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Well-known resident Hanna Makoba and her partner, Miemie Nkomo of the New Horizon Sewing Co-operative, were deeply disturbed when they arrived at the New Horizon Sewing Cooperative on the morning op 25 July to find that a break-in during the night had left their pride and joy in a horrendous mess.

Makoba has received numerous prestigious nominations and awards for the community work being done at New Horizon. 

She has travelled countrywide to represent New Horizon at meetings and training seminars, conferences and congresses.

Chris Engelbrecht, training and programme manager of the Department of Social Development, said: "It's so sad when people work so hard to break the cycle of unemployment and poverty by creating their own employment, using their own assets to bring change in their community, and they are targeted and thieved of their tools."

She called on residents not to support crime in their communities, as it breaks down the change agents they have established.

Equipment stolen

Makoba asked assistance from her community when they found out that a washing scale and a hotplate were stolen from their workshop.

At the time of publishing the stolen goods have not been recovered and costs will have to be incurred to replace them.

A sad Makoba said the ladies op the co-operative work very hard to acquire the necessary equipment to carry on with their sewing, alterations, washing and ironing business. 

"This is the second break-in in a very short time, by exactly the people we wish to reach out to, and this is already costing us thousands of rands. 

We really need our Asherville community to be aware of this situation, and we ask that they do not buy stolen articles, but rather report [theft] to the police."

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