Phikwe�s heart beats again

Final hurrah: Shoppers thronged the Phikwe Coop at its farewell sale in 2011. PIC CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Final hurrah: Shoppers thronged the Phikwe Coop at its farewell sale in 2011. PIC CALISTUS KOLANTSHO

Situated in the centre of the town, a stone’s throw from the bus rank, is the Selebi Phikwe Cooperative Society, a membership driven retail outlet dating back to 1975. To be accurate, it was there until 2011 when increasing competition, alleged corruption and economic ill-winds forced its closure. Staff Writer, ONALENNA KELEBEILE MODIKWA finds that the iconic institution has risen from ashes and is yet again a bastion of citizen enterprise

Albert Paki, Selebi Phikwe’s first mayor who served between 1981 and 1982, fondly remembers the early days of the Selebi Phikwe Cooperative Society’s establishment. As the town formed around the fairly new copper and nickel mining operations, the cooperative, popularly known as ‘Copa’ became its first retail centre.

The Co-op was the first to sell groceries, quickly gaining the hearts of residents.  The establishment of a trendy bar also made it a magnet for social life in the blossoming town.

Editor's Comment
Let us all go to vote

Figures released by the country’s electoral management body have shown that a total of 1, 037, 684 people have registered to vote.However, eligible voters could be discouraged by events leading to the voting day like poor execution of advance voting amid talks that the elections could be unfair.There have also been threats by certain opposition politicians that shall the elections not be free and fair, they will halt them.Despite these...

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