What began as 
frustration over unemployment and limited opportunities in Evaton and Sebokeng, Gauteng, has grown into a powerful example of what a community can achieve when it backs its own vision.
Isinkwa Sethu, a community-owned bakery initiative based in Evaton, was started by residents who decided they could no longer afford to wait for change.
According to business spokesperson Sibusiso Nsele, the community chose to create opportunities for itself rather than accept a future shaped by poverty, joblessness and dependency.
“We need to create opportunities for employment among ourselves,” he said, reflecting on the thinking that sparked the initiative.
That determination led to a bold idea: to use the R370 South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant not only for immediate needs, but as seed capital for something lasting.
A total of 1,200 people came on board, each contributing R350 from their grant. Together, they raised about R420 000, which was used as a deposit to secure bakery equipment.
Additional stokvel contributions were then used to buy stock, design packaging, implement barcoding and set up basic systems so trading could begin quickly.
For the founders, sacrificing one month’s grant was worthwhile if it could lead to benefits for years to come.
“The motivation was never to dismiss the importance of state support. Instead, it was to show that grant recipients can also become investors and business owners,” said Nsele.
Those behind Isinkwa Sethu say the journey has brought dignity, hope and a renewed sense of possibility.
They no longer see themselves only as recipients of assistance, but as co-owners of a growing enterprise. In their view, grants should be a safety net and a stepping stone, not a permanent destination.
So far, the bakery has created 40 jobs, starting with 30 workers—10 in the bakery and 20 in the supermarket—and later expanding to include delivery drivers as demand grew.
“These are not casual opportunities, but jobs expected to become permanent as the business stabilises. In practical terms, that means 40 households now have an income through Isinkwa Sethu,” added Nsele.
The impact goes beyond employment. By selling bread at R11 wholesale and R13 over the counter, the bakery is helping improve local food security by making a staple more affordable for struggling families.
Nsele said the community continues to support the bakery because it believes in their slogan, “Motho o ja se mo jesang”—a Sesotho phrase meaning people should support and consume what also feeds and benefits them.
The bakery is only the beginning. Isinkwa Sethu’s vision is to grow into a national brand and expand into groceries, farming, food production and other industries that communities rely on every day.
The aim is to create more jobs, increase local ownership and build a stronger culture of collective investment, added Nsele.
As the SASSA marks 20 years of providing a lifeline to millions, Nsele said their story proves that even a small grant can become a powerful tool when used wisely and collectively.
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