Eunice Ngwenya joined SEF when it first opened at Kwa Guqa, Hlalanikahle in 2016; she’s on her 3rd loan cycle and has been on the programme for 13 months now.

She belongs to one of the first groups that joined the Individual Liability Programme (ILP) at Hlalanikahle. “I had doubts about it when I heard of the opening of this project; I thought it was one of those organisations that steal money from people”, she said.

Eunice only started being interested when more people started talking about it. Her family was also very sceptical about her joining the program but was positively influenced by another member of her group (Margarette Makaba) to join SEF. “She told me that SEF has been there for a long period of time, it is genuine and it can help me grow my business, so I told her that I will only join if she does” Eunice mentioned.

Eunice has been in the business industry for a long time but she decided to join SEF based on the encouragement of her friend. She had her business running before she joined SEF, but since she joined her business is now thriving and her tuck shop /supermarket is more fully stocked.

“The best thing that has happened to me since joining SEF is that I am now able to save money for myself, which is something that I did not do before”, she said. With her savings money she was able to buy a bakkie. “Before it was not easy to buy stock because I had to pay a lot of money to hire transport but now I am able to buy stock anytime I need to”, said Eunice happily.

With her savings she was also able to pay her child’s tuition fees. “I would advise anyone who wants to join SEF to use the money appropriately, they must buy stock and stay disciplined especially with their savings and be serious with their business and then they will really gain from SEF”, she said.