DMS Interiors, Cape Town

DMS Interiors is an economic development project in the manufacturing sector. It is situated in Blackheath whose municipality is Cape Town. Funding was for equipment used in the manufacture of wooden products. The business is a registered close corporation benefiting six people; four men and two women, including a person with disabilities.

The small business has been operating since November 1998; which provides staff with specialist industry training and to develop a modern manufacturing facility capable of producing high volumes of quality wooden products. 

They manufacture from raw to finished wooden products.  Their activities include maintenance and restoration of furniture, wood cutting services, sanding and edging of wood products as well as spraying and polishing of all manufactured products. The business products include built-in cupboards for kitchens and bedrooms, office furniture, sleeper furniture, tables and chairs, pool tables, home pubs, doors and door frames, window frames, wooden staircases, wendy houses DIY assembly products.

The business has been funded to acquire new equipment and safety equipment to improve on its production and for expansion while at the same they needed to improve on health and safety for their staff. The new equipment has also saved them the costs of hiring equipment when the demand is exceptionally high.

The business works in partnership with Garden and Leisure and the South African Home Owners magazines, which use the business products for their articles and features. They also exhibit at Cape Town Decorex, where a customised office furniture stand with their products is put on display. Shintsha Furniture project provides training and business development support to them.

DMS Interiors owner/carpenter displaying a chair in the making

Siphucule pre-primary school, KwaNonqaba

Siphuculu preprimary school in KwaNonqaba in the municipality of Mossel Bay was originally started as a place of care for children. It developed and became well established as a preschool in August 1994 and registered as a nonprofit organisation. It benefits 87 people, including committee members, the principal and staff.

The Foundation grant was used for the supply and installation of carpets, vertical blinds, wall tiles, floor tiles and brick paving, the construction of undercover playing area and a scribble wall, supply and installation of burglar proofing and security doors, electrical appliances, furniture and utensils, safety equipment and training and educational toys. In addition, it provided for the establishment of a permaculture food garden.

It provides for daily early childhood development facility and place of safekeeping for preschool children while their parents are at work, providing education and developmental stimulation in preparation for formal schooling, providing healthy and nutritionally planned meals, taking preschool children off the streets to eliminate crimes against children such as rape, assault and molestation.

Originally the preschool operated from a container and a corrugated iron shack used as classrooms, a kitchen and a storeroom. Through dedicated fundraising efforts, the committee was able to secure new 973 m2 premises in the same community of KwaNonqaba where they erected a 122 m2 building. The new school is built with facebrick and consists of three classrooms, an office, storeroom, kitchen, staff toilet and sufficient ablution facilities for the children.

For the social and health care of the area, Siphuculu works in partnership with five clinics, three mobile clinics and two hospitals which serve the broader community.

The Department of Social Development renders a variety of social and welfare services for different needs and categories. Other funders of the project were the Department of Social Development, Equal Opportunity Foundation, Nedbank, Rotary Club and Barker Pharmacy, who respectively contributed towards subsidies, the building project, the purchase of land and outdoor play equipment.

Siphuculu preprimary school learners in KwaNonqaba, Mossel Bay.

The old structure of Siphuculu preprimary school.