12 Jul 2015

With the rise of unemployment rate getting extreme by the day, some young people opt for self-employment.

Keleemetse Shimane (33) from Kedia village in the Boteti Sub District owns and runs KediaTannery and Leatherworks.

He did not perform well in his form three examinations which made life very hard for him.

Mr Shimane said he had a passion in leatherworks , which is why he was one of the five young people from Kedia Village who were selected for Tannery and Leatherworks training by the Hides and Skins department under the Department of Veterinary Services in Letlhakane which took place in Dukwi in 2009.

He said upon completion of his training he returned home where he met Ndaboka Baula (33) who already had the skills and experience in the field and they formed a partnership.

In 2010 they registered their business and the Social Welfare Department bought them chemicals used for tanning.

All that went down the drain as the chemicals were destroyed by rains due to the poor condition of their workshop at that time.

At the beginning of 2013 they were funded under the Poverty Eradication Programme.

They were given funds to renovate their workshop and to buy materials to start the business.

He however said t like any other business they encounter problems every day.

”The problem is that our village is very far from resources, we incur expenses on transport to Letlhakane to buy materials and chemicals that we use in our production, we also use Indigenous tanning which consumes a lot of time and disadvantages us but on the other hand Machine Tanning though expensive it makes products more appealing to clients.

Kedia Tannery and Leatherworks manufactures belts, bags, hats, sandals and phone pouches.

“Our customers are the Kedia Community as well as people from all over the country.” He explained. They currently have employed three young people in the village. Ends