Laduma Ngxokolo founder of the MaXhosa clothing brand recently received conflicting views from social media users after the brand shared on its Twitter page its short-term internship program for 30 diploma/degree holders.
The clothing brand which has seen international fashion weeks such as Paris Fashion week and many others proudly announced the following on its Twitter account:
“We are proud to announce the MaXhosa Africa 2023 Residency Programme: This is an exciting opportunity for individuals to showcase their capability and capacity to perform in the fast-paced world of high-fashion design, production, operations and retail.”
The post then redirected users to an application link which stated that qualified applicants were needed for, “marketing assistant, social media assistant, videography assistant, photography assistant, Human Resource, assistant, finance assistant, design assistant, pattern-making assistant, retail assistant and sales assistant.”
It further stated:
“The program is two-months long: Programme is from: 25th July 2023 – 25th September 2023. Stipend: R4000 per month.”
Upon seeing the R4000 a month stipend to be given to those who will successfully join the brand, Twitter users came for the brand saying:
?you guys sell sleeveless pullovers for 10k but want to pay R4000 to someone who has a degree in Accounting ??? hilarious you all are!
— Melanin?Monroe (@Tumi0209) July 19, 2023
Maybe increase the stipend to R6k. Life is expensive. The person will have to travel from far and transport will be expensive. Food is expensive, toiletry is expensive.
The people who decide on the stipend must try and live on a R4k salary for a month and see how it goes.— Andile Gift Bonxe (@AndileBonxe) July 19, 2023
This is disappointing and upsetting. Y’all can say this salary meets the permissible “minimum wage”. But this is giving “bare minimum”. Jst because the wage meets the legal requirements in ?? does not necessarily reflect a just and equitable practice. Zamani ngenye indlela Laduma
— MamTolo ?? (@NtshengulanaK) July 19, 2023
Other users came to the clothing brand’s defense, adding:
Well Done ???????. Let’s play our part in alleviating the youth unemployment crisis in Mzansi
— Swenky (@Miss_Dee_Zee) July 20, 2023
This is a really great opportunity. I hope the chosen candidates grab this opportunity with both their hands. Thank you @MaXhosaAfrica for reinvesting into our people.
— Nkunz’malanga (@X_olan1) July 19, 2023
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