BusinessCommunity

R2.3 Million Boost for Imbadu Community Bakery Sparks Local Jobs and EconomicGrowth

6 months Anetta Mangxaba 341 Views

Plankenberg Industrial Area — July 14, 2025

A vision born from savings circles in Kayamandi more than a decade ago is blossoming into a powerful engine of local economic development. Yesterday, Ward 23 Councillor Lwando Nkamisa joined the Minister of Social Development to officially hand over a cheque worth R2.3 million from the National Development Agency (NDA) to the Imbadu Community Bakery Cooperative.

The funding marks a significant milestone for the cooperative, which plans to open its community-owned bakery in the Plankenberg Industrial Area. The bakery is set to produce 365,000 loaves of bread annually and create 35 jobs, offering a lifeline of employment, especially for unemployed women in the community.

“Imbadu has a unique story of resilience and community empowerment,” said Councillor Nkamisa. “This cooperative was formed 13 years ago by residents who started saving together to buy land for housing. Today, they’re building an enterprise that will keep investment and opportunity rooted in our communities.”

Stellenbosch Mayor Jeremy Shaun Fasser has also thrown his weight behind the project, praising it as a model for community-driven development.

Imbadu’s ambitions go well beyond bread. The cooperative has already helped its members save over R1.5 million toward future home ownership and is actively involved in skills training, offering courses in baking, business, and financial management through partnerships with entities such as SEDA and the NDA.

Operating as a member-driven cooperative, Imbadu aims to foster community ownership and economic resilience. Leaders say they are already exploring future expansions into sectors such as textiles, solar energy, and agriculture to create even more community-owned enterprises.

The grand opening of the Imbadu Community Bakery is eagerly anticipated in the coming weeks, promising not just fresh bread for local tables, but fresh hope for economic upliftment in Kayamandi and surrounding areas.