TSHINO – Members of the Pfano Peanut Butter Project, situated at Tshino in Vuwani district, are very happy after receiving a donation of a roasting machine, a deskinner (dehuller) and hammer, worth R140 000 from Eskom.

The project was started and established in 2001, but due to a lack of funds, the members found it extremely difficult to continue. They submitted a business plan and constitution to different places in an effort to get donations of stamping machines.

The members were overjoyed when it was announced that the Thohoyandou Eskom Development Fund had decided to assist them.

The Eskom management visited the Pfano project to investigate before handing over the equipment. At present the project is selling quality peanut butter to different schools, churches and communities. The plans are, however, to start distributing their products to Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and the Free State.

The project is also helping the impoverished families to maintain their children, even to pay school fees. The project was nearly dissolved after they experienced problems regarding equipment. Some of the donors made pledges two years ago.

When Mirror visited the project at Tshino, we found out that the project is still experiencing some problems, such as no security fence, no borehole and no quality building to store their machines safely.

The social and economic adviser of Eskom, Shadrack Munyangane, told Mirror that they decided to donate the equipment to the Pfano project after they had seen that the women are totally devoted and dedicated for their project. He also stated that Eskom is focusing on rural areas to develop and sustain communities. The chairperson of the Pfano Peanut Butter Project, Tshimangadzo Mposi, told Mirror that she was very happy that Eskom had decided to donate the machines.