Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane arrives at the provincial legislature to deliver the 2023 state of the province address. Photo: Supplied
NEWS
The Mpumalanga government has created prosperous entrepreneurs through two programmes run by Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane’s office and the provincial department of agriculture.
Mtshweni-Tsipane told the legislature on Friday during the state of the province address that the Premier’s Youth Development Fund was now one of the highly successful flagship programmes.
“Since its inception, the project has empowered 97 youth-owned businesses across the province and funding to the tune of R140 million was allocated to them. In the current financial year, 36 companies have been approved for funding, with a total amount of R92.3 million disbursed thus far,” she said.
The premier added these companies comprised 60 males, 45 women and five youths with disabilities.
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These youth-owned enterprises are within sectors that are inclusive of mining, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and logistics. Beneficiaries of the fund are spread all over the province, with the effect that every single one of the 17 local municipalities is home to at least one beneficiary.
Mtshweni-Tsipane said that the successful project under the Premier’s Youth Development Fund was Mo Africa Restaurant, in Mkhondo Local Municipality in Gert Sibande District, owned by Treasure Thabethe. Mo Africa is a business that started selling food from under the trees, then moved to a suitable venue through funding availed by the Premier’s Youth Development Fund. The business has created nine permanent jobs.
“As an economic spin-off, Mo Africa restaurant has managed to create an additional business opportunity by collaborating with a young woman-owned company that operates a boutique spa within the premises of Mo Africa Restaurant,” Mtshweni-Tsipane said.
The boutique spa, she added, has created an additional three jobs for the youth of Mkhondo.
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Another company funded through the fund is Maradebe in Victor Khanye Local Municipality in Nkangala District. Maradebe is a mining company owned by Mbali Poolo and specialises in yellow plant hire. Mtshweni-Tsipane said that the company managed to create five additional permanent jobs.
She stated:
The socio-economic status of these young people has changed for the better through the support of the Premier’s Youth Development Fund.
Mtshweni-Tsipane said that to increase the participation of youth with disabilities and youth in rural areas, roadshows were conducted in all rural municipalities. She added that at least 30% of the funding would be set aside for applications coming from the designated applicants, particularly people with disabilities from rural areas.
“Apart from funding their enterprises, we also provide pre-and post-investment support,” she said.
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The Fortune 40 programme, which falls within the department of agriculture, has been running for about five years and has reached maturity. It is now producing young commercial farmers.
One example of Fortune 40’s success is a piggery project owned by Treasure Sibaya and Siyabonga Nyembe from Daggakraal near Volksrust. They started the project in July 2021 with 21 sows and one boar supplied by the agriculture department.
“To date, these young men have already sold 194 weaners and growers to the abattoir in Ermelo,” Mtshweni-Tsipane mentioned.
Another success story, Mtshweni-Tsipane said, was the Barberton vegetable farm in the Barberton Environmental Centre.
“This farm is the most successful vegetable farm in Ehlanzeni district under the Fortune 40 programme. It produces cabbages, lettuce, spinach, beetroot, green pepper and sweet potatoes, and supplies the local Spar, Pick n Pay and the general public with fresh produce,” she added.
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Fortune 40 has also assisted Lebogang Mashego of Vlaaklagte no1, in Thembisile Hani Local Municipality. Mashego has opened her own 26 000-capacity poultry layer farm for egg production. She supplies Shoprite stores in KwaMhlanga and Kwaggafontein and has created 22 jobs in the area.
