Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - October 14, 2007
Prega Govender

David Mkhwanazi lost his job after telling his bosses that he was HIV- positive. Now his status has become the reason he has found new employment.

The 32-year-old is one of 45 people, either HIV-positive or affected by the disease, who are employed by a factory making cuddly African toys.

The former security guard was booted out of his job nearly seven years ago and received no benefits from the company where he had worked for nine years.

Until last month he relied on food parcels to survive, but now he gets paid R350 a week at the factory, which produces a cuddly toy known as Zep, a cross between a zebra and a parrot.

Mkhwanazi and his colleagues are all employed by the Cuddle Company in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, a commercial initiative of the Dutch non-governmental organisation KidsRights.

The company landed a R4-million contract to supply 30000 of the toys to two leading chain stores, a printing company and a bank in Holland.

Designed for children aged between four and 12, the toy is based on the main character, Zep, in a book written by a popular Dutch author, Nicolle van den Hurk.

KidsRights voluntary worker Aviva Guggenheim said: "There's a huge hype around Zep in Holland. The toy, together with the children's book, will be sold as a package for about R250 in Holland."

The workforce is made up of people living with Aids, older orphans affected by the disease and foster parents who are taking care of Aids orphans. All come from the townships of Zithobeni, Refilwe, Onverwacht, Wolvenkop, Verena, Dark City, Sizanani and Rathabiseng in the area.

Unlike most other factories established purely for profit, the company, which started production last month, will plough back a chunk of its profits into the community-based organisation St Joseph's Care and Support Trust at Sizanani Village, which operates from the same premises.

A Catholic mission, St Joseph's provides antiretroviral drugs to 550 Aids patients and operates a feeding scheme for 820 vulnerable children, including Aids orphans.

Guggenheim, who helped set up the company, said a portion of its profits would be used to keep the factory running, including paying operating costs such as workers' wages.

"But the company will also donate some of its profits to St Joseph's. They need money for ARVs and to run the feeding scheme," Guggenheim said.

The company also provides its nine male and 36 female workers with lunch and free healthcare.

"Workers on ARVs are also given time off during the month to collect their medication. This is perhaps the only company that allows its staff to do this during working hours," Guggenheim said, estimating that around 60% of the workers were HIV-positive.

"We are helping people who never had jobs before. Some lost their jobs after revealing their HIV status."

Although idle chatting among workers on the factory floor is strictly forbidden during working hours, Mkhwanazi believes that one of the biggest benefits is that HIV-positive workers can freely discuss their health issues with colleagues and management without fear of victimisation.

Mkhwanazi, whose job involves stuffing a total of 14.7kg of plastic pellets into the legs of between 2100 and 2400 toys every day, said workers did not shy away from discussing their illness.

"The factory has provided a lifeline to Aids sufferers who previously had no job. Previously, I relied on food parcels. Now I am relieved that I have a job and can put food on the table."

Another HIV-infected worker, who did not want to be identified, said there was great team spirit among workers. "We openly discuss problems with management. "

Another employee, Lovey Mbonani, 22, who is employed as a quality controller, said colleagues constantly reminded each other when to take their ARV medication.

Angela Maake, health services manager for St Joseph's, said: "For many here, it's like heaven because where else would they find jobs? They can now lead normal lives."

Ricus Dullaert, an HIV/Aids consultant for the Dutch donor agency Cordaid, who works at St Joseph's, said donations from the Cuddle Company could help reduce the mission's reliance on overseas donors.

"Aside from ARVs and the feeding scheme, we need to pay counsellors, home-based carers and staff looking after terminally ill patients," he said.

The factory's general manager, Arafath Khan, said the factory had employed extra staff because absenteeism among workers was high.

"It's one of the challenges we have to face. But our workers work very hard and appreciate having been given a job," he said.

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