Awards for local young entrepreneurs

The MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Mr Seaparo Sekoati, urged young people in the province to make use of opportunities available, so that they can help promote economic development and create jobs for the less fortunate.

He was the guest speaker during the announcement of the winners of a competition for young local entrepreneurs at PorscheVilla hotel near Thohoyandou on Friday night.

“We want our young entrepreneurs in the province to support, empower and to invest in the youth who stand up and participate in the economic development of our country. We must tackle poverty and unemployment in our communities through agriculture and tourism,” Sekoati said.

The prizes were awarded in three categories: agriculture, tourism and enterprise development, with R100 000 and a trophy as the first prize in every category, R50 000 for the second prize and R25 000 for the third prize. The theme of the competition was Building vibrant and committed young entrepreneurs in Vhembe District; a sustainable solution towards building strong local economic development.

“We have set aside R45 million this financial year to fund and support young people who are ready to change the life of poor people for the better, co-operatives and small businesses in the province. We have taken steps in promoting economic development through agriculture, tourism and enterprise and we have earmarked young people to take a lead,” added Sekoati.

The winners are Mashudu Silimela (33) in tourism, Rotondwa Nyelisani in agriculture and Pen It Solutions in enterprise development.

A previous winner and now a successful businesswoman, Ms Livhuwani Tshifhango, said determination and hard work were behind the success of everyone who wanted to do business. She is running a poultry farming project at Nzhelele-Ha-Ramavhoya village.

One of the winners, Pen It Solutions, is doing printing, information technology, web development and system development. It is based in Sibasa and run by Mulalo Masisi (27) and Eddie Phaswana (28). “We are seeing a significant growth due to the support from customers in the Vhembe region and beyond. We have created jobs for 27 previously unemployed people,”  said Phaswana.

Date:27 June 2014

By: Silas Nduvheni

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