Elandsdoorn and Sondagfontein Bakeries

The initiative to set up a bakery was developed in 1998 and today the Elandsdoorn bakery is running well. Bread is a primary food product and is rarely produced in townships. Large outside bakery concerns supply the shops in the townships and the local economy does not benefit from it. The idea of starting a bakery came from a baker from the township who was unemployed and did not have the capital to start a bakery. Because he was black and did not have any financial security, a bank loan would never have been granted. The idea of helping him and providing capital was very attractive because it served all purposes: the local economy would be stimulated, it would create employment, it would serve as a pilot project to set an example for other people in providing services in the townships and there would always be a demand for the product: everybody needs bread daily.

With the assistance of the Alfred Jodokus Kwak Stichting from the Netherlands , a second-hand commercial oven was purchased in the Netherlands . Elandsdoorn Bakery employs approximately 18 people and produces 2 000 loaves of bread each day. The bakery is now operated as a commercial company. Any profits made will be used for further development of the community.

In October 2004 the doors of a second, smaller bakery were opened in Sondagfontein, with financial assistance from Koopmans Meelfabrieken and The Wild Geese Foundation from the Netherlands .