24 Jun 2020

The COVID-19 lockdown, brought most, if not all, sectors of the economy, including small businesses, to a standstill. While most people were concerned about the uncertainties that came with movement restrictions, Kanye-based tailor, Ms Sefela Magosi used the period to reignite her philanthropic spirit.

After health officials pronounced face masks part of the arsenal in the fight to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, 35-year-old Ms Magosi partnered with Ms Mothusi Piti to make face masks and donate them to elders in Mafhikana ward.

“Mothusi bought the material and I contributed my sewing skills to make the masks. We chose the elderly members of society after realising that most donations were for the young, hence leaving a gap. We also acknowledge that old people are unemployed so they cannot afford to buy masks,” she explained.

To date, the duo has managed to donate 58 masks and she continues to make more for the less privileged members of society. Even though business has resumed and Ms Magosi has started her usual orders, she said she still made time for charity work and has extended the gesture to school-going children in her ward and beyond.

“I am back to my usual business, but I still make face masks for pupils from families that cannot afford to buy. So far I have given masks to 10 Ketlogetswe and 10 Gasegwagwa primary school pupils, and I continue to do more,” she said.

Even though Ms Magosi is not new to philanthropy work, she said it was her first time to donate in bulk and she said she intended to keep up, resources permitting. For her, the gratification that came with giving outweighed the profits generated from the business.

The mother of three acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic had taught her the importance of diversification to avoid adverse effects.

She said, her business, which normally engaged two temporary workers, was hard hit by the lockdown and she was only starting to pick-up. Ends