South Africa: A one million rand support was given to four young entrepreneurs from Phumelela Local Municipality on 24 June.
After a week of interaction with the community and a thorough assessment of youth-owned businesses in the area by Department of Economic Small Business Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) officials, Premier Sisi Ntombela, together with MEC Makalo Mohale, embarked on an outreach programme targeting the youth of Phumelela.
The program was held in Memel. A community with a population of just under 8000. Joblessness has a tight grip on this beautiful place which is located on the borders of Mpumalanga and Kwa-Zulu Natal provinces.
This visit has provided the government with an opportunity to openly engage with the people of Memel and the surrounding towns of Phumelela.
The challenges that business people are often faced with were laid bare. What became apparent was that our people only need an opportunity. Not all of them aspire to be employed, but they want to run their own business.
With the rampant unemployment and poverty levels, those who wish to establish their businesses will assist the government greatly in reducing soaring unemployment numbers.
This youth entrepreneurship consultative programme is proof that the time for lip service is over. Four young entrepreneurs benefitted to a collective tune of one million rands to expand their businesses.
In addition to these others, govt provided them with offices where they could operate from. Some awarded resources such as laptops for record keeping, registrations and other business needs.
“We humbly appeal to the leadership of Phumelela local municipality to speedily assist those who still need assistance. I applaud MEC Mohale and his officials for also bringing officials from, among others, Free State Development Corporation, Free State Gaming, Liquor and Tourism Authority and many other entities.
By so doing, the department afforded aspirant business people an opportunity to get all the necessary information, such as funding and writing business proposals at the venue.
The Premier also took this opportunity to officially hand over title deeds to residents of Zamani in Memel.
