MATSAPHA – Driving around the streets of Italy, United Kingdom, Australia and Spain one will come across high-quality Workwear products that have been custom-made by Emaswati.
Giants first foray into Italy this past week resulted in a shipment of over 400 items that have been delivered in that country and more countries in Europe have since shown interest by placing orders for the locally made product. Though the local clothing giant has never supplied or designed such products before, it has allowed its Swati employees to give it a try and this has indeed paid off, giving competition to other Asian manufacturers.
The Rain-Suits, which have now attracted global companies, have been manufactured and distributed by Matsapha Clockwork Giant in conjunction with G-fox Eswatini. In fact, a customer who wants these Rain-Suits can visit G-Fox to place an order. They are readily available, and at an affordable price. G Fox supplies personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning chemicals, paper products, and industrial consumable supplies.
Already, countries including South Africa and Zimbabwe have received the much-talked-about Rain-Suits, and the United Kingdom has also shown interest.
Obviously, these orders from global markets have caused workers at Clockwork Giant and G-fox to tap their backs exuberantly for attracting international markets – a thing that has resulted in their skills getting a demand abroad. The company has employed over 1 500 Emaswati and due to rapid expansion, 400 more job opportunities are coming from January 2022.
The employees have stated that this historic achievement has been made possible by the healthy working environment cultured by the company management.
What has also given them hope is that local customers are showing support by purchasing the various products that are being sold by the G-FOX store.
Michael Nzima, Despatch Manager at Clockwork Giant, said they have observed positive growth in the standard and quality of products manufactured by the company.
“We are confident about the future and the workers are so excited about the products. In fact, we have managed to record 100 per cent of the target in terms of production,” he said.
He continued: “We are also getting good feedback from our customers as none of them has filed any complaint about our products,”
Ncamisile Vilane-Dvuba, a Production Line Manager, said the company has become the first in Africa to manufacture Rain Suits.
Having joined Clockwork Giant in 2011 from a textile firm, Vilane-Dvuba said they are confident that they will compete in the global market following that the workers are motivated. She said ever since she got employed, she has mastered the manufacturing industry and further taught many employees who are now having various skills in workwear products.
“It is interesting that it is the first time we manufacture Rain Suits and the product was perfect. This has made us believe that Emaswati has the rightful skills. We have conquered the challenges that were caused by fear of working with a big machine,” she said.
“It took motivation and the fact that the company is doing a sterling job in buying good machinery,” she said.
Vilane-Dvuba further explained that the future looks good and performance has made it possible for the production department to meet deadlines.
What the employees had to say:
Dumsani Dlamini
As you can see, this is the work of our hands. We are grateful to the company for giving us an opportunity to manufacture clothing that has gone into the global market.
Nokuthula Dladla
I am proud I work for this company and I hope it gets more customers so that it provides more job opportunities for Emaswati. We believe in our skills and we are ready to work harder and meet production demands.
Thabiso Shabangu
It is wonderful to work for this company. We are seeing a lot of growth and this has given us hope that the future is bright. We are able to put food on the table.
Dankie Malinga
We ask Emaswati to support this company for the effort it has put in showcasing our skills as employees.
