Dantago Clothing factory at Arandis recently sent Usakos-born 34-year-old Hans Pieter Somaeb, to the Sewing Industry Technical Training Centre (SITTC) in Cape Town to hone his technical skills. Somaeb started with the firm in 2001 in the equipment maintenance department as an assistant. Diligence coupled with technical savvy, willingness to learn and to demonstrate application of the knowledge gained, resulted in his steady rise. He is now responsible for factory maintenance at Dantago Clothing.

The chief executive of Dantago Clothing, Colin Williams says the firm has secured an order from South African retail giant, Pick ‘n Pay, to produce 70,000 children’s garments every month. The contact runs through to November and the prestigious client has indicated that follow-up orders are in the offering, but first this deal must be concluded satisfactorily and on time. A certificate issued by the Cape-based SITTC recognizes Somaeb’s successful completion of the ‘three-needle cover seam machine’ module of a ‘textile machinery - setting, adjusting and fault finding’ course. Training will continue as Somaeb is due to return to Cape Town in July for the ‘bartack machine’ module followed by him doing the ‘button-hole machine’ training module in August.