Centre pleads for public to be on the lookout for stolen sewing machines

WORK WITHOUT MACHINERY: Elsabie Verstraat, left, and Sandy Baillie, right, from a small Buffalo City sewing concern, say sewing without machines has slowed progress. Lee Schultz, at the back, helps students to sew by hand. Picture by TIRSA ELLIS
By Nandipha Ramadikela

EAST LONDON -- The Hill Decor Training Centre yesterday asked the public to look out for sewing machines stolen from the centre during two break-ins over the weekend.

According to founder Elsabie Verstraat, who is also the only source of funding for the centre, five sewing machines were stolen on Friday and microwaves and fans were stolen yesterday.

She said break-ins were rife and the centre had had 10 in two months.

"I am fighting a losing battle here, with no funding.

"Presently, I have more ladies than machines and when I send them home they don't want to go, instead they beg me to keep them."

She asked the public to report anyone trying to sell sewing machines with the following serial numbers: Protea De Lux Model 080022051025, 08002205; Empisal De Lux Model 107123401, 009077891; and Janome Model JF 1012713062272.

One of her students, Pamela Mbonyane, described the break-ins as a big blow. "Everything we use here is Verstraat's. Following the break-ins we decided to contribute R50 a month.

''Though it's not much, we feel we have to do something to keep this centre running, otherwise we'd find ourselves at home with nothing to do and no means of generating income."

The establishment of the centre has brought other projects to life as former students now operate their own centre, making and selling, among other goods, upholstery and bed linen.