Jesse Naidoo’s house contains heaps of old clothing — some stuffed into bags, others inside wheelie bins and even more heaped up on long tables. Women are sorting through them, cutting off labels, checking for damage and putting them into designated containers for dresses, shirts and trousers. Several of the workers are disabled. Naidoo’s house is the centre of Clothes To Good (C2G), which uses castoffs to create a chain of employment opportunities. The sorters are employed directly by the company, with a preference for disabled people who struggle to find work elsewhere. "We employ the unemployable, generally," Naidoo says. "We are not looking for the best person for the job; we want to include more people and give them the skills so they become the best person for the job." The workers prepare bales of clothes that are sold in Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Tembisa, Olievenhoutbosch and Diepsloot by about 60 women who are mostly mothers of disabled children. Their expenses are generall...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.