In response to the needs of unemployed youth, the Sasolburg Woman’s Day event saw the official launch of government’s Mobile Retail Initiative. The outcome of two youth imbizo programmes in Sasolburg and Port St Johns, this initiative was highlighted at the Women’s Day rally by President Jacob Zuma awarding certificates of attendance and “gadgets” to the top five young girls who attended a special course through the department of small business development, in partnership with private sector entity, Syntell.
Lucia Molekoa, Seipati Sello, Mokgadi Malisa, Nomsa Zondo and Ntsie Mofokeng were welcomed on stage, with proud family members ushered from the audience into the golden circle section to see the president congratulate them.
Explains Noko Manyelo, media and parliamentary liaison officer with the office of deputy minister Elizabeth Thabethe: “There are so many unemployed young entrepreneurs desperately trying to source employment.
“Together with Syntell, which specifically sourced and made the mobile retail gadgets to help young entrepreneurs develop fledgling businesses, the department of small business development under the stewardship of minister Elizabeth Thabethe have created a … mobile platform to assist emerging entrepreneurs with a stable operational space to sell various services such as airtime and electricity.
“We trained 50 young entrepreneurs in business management, financial literacy and patriotism. The philosophy is that for every one person we assist, they will assist two more.”
Thousands of young people attended the imbizos. Metsimaholo mayor Brutus Mahlaku said he was excited to partner with the department because the deputy minister “is very clear in her approach. It is going to be a process, but we believe that there will be success stories coming out of this intervention”.