By: Wendy Manjeya
Following her recent win in the regional rounds of the Women’s Empowerment Awards for the OR Tambo District, fashion designer Nobuntu Saka plans on expanding her business. Saka, whose design journey started at a young age, won R60,000 last week in recognition of her significant contribution to economic development and job creation in the agriculture sector. She will now participate in the provincial leg of the awards in August.
Saka spoke to Vutivi News about her childhood fascination with fashion. She recalled watching a neighbour sew, which sparked a passion for design that would shape her future. Starting with scraps of material and an old pair of sheep shears, Saka’s creativity blossomed. Today, she is known for her exquisite designs and handmade garments, teaching sewing and design across the Eastern Cape.
Fondly known as “Mama Saka” to her adoring customers, she is the owner of a designer shop in the heart of the Wild Coast, Port St. John’s. Her expertise ranges from traditional attire to school uniforms. She also owns a sewing factory which was built from scratch in the early 2000s. Despite lacking formal training, her vision for design, often sparked by dreams, has never wavered. Before her shop became a reality, Saka’s perseverance saw her through challenging times, including her cultivating and selling vegetables to make ends meet.
“My factory, built entirely by me, houses the sewing operation. The finished products are sold through my shop in Port St. John’s where I’ve created jobs for a dedicated sales team. I also employ casual workers to meet seasonal demands,” she said. “These people help me, and I pay them so they can feed their families and send their children to school.” “We celebrate the rich heritage of Mpondo and IsiXhosa cultures through unique African fashion. The appreciation is evident many customers visit our shop to admire and purchase our garments.”
With the prize money, Saka plans to buy materials to expand her business, aiming to generate up to R500,000. Meanwhile, Nobubele Nzima, a poultry farmer and egg producer from Mthatha, received the award for best smallholder. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mpondo Kingdom Queen Madosini Ndamase urged the government to better support rural women in development and agriculture. “Empowering them with resources and training can help families and education. They prove this by using agricultural and sewing income to send children to school,” she said.
