13 Mar 2016

Bona Naledi, a youth club from Old Naledi, recently launched a traditional cuisine trading as Bona Tatso.

The restaurant serves the usual kasi tasty meal that leaves one with gangly tasty buds as its name suggests.

Speaking at the official opening of the restaurant, the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng said he was impressed that his vision of utilising open spaces in residential areas was realised.

“I was compelled to be here as we have struggled for the usage of open spaces in locations. This project is a typical justification of my continued support in advocating for the use of open spaces by the youth in opening their businesses. It will prove to the youth at large as to what we mean when we talk about usage of open spaces,” he said.

He commended the club for their idea, adding that the youth need to think of ways to sustain themselves without  receiving handouts from the government, adding that initiatives such as these were exciting.

He promised to include the club in the programmes that his ministry embarks on, adding that his ministry would also assist in ensuring that the project was turned into a franchise, so that it could run countrywide.

On his part, the chief executive officer of Bona Tatso, Salim Kegodile said it was through assistance from the Diaco Marathon that they were able to open the restaurant.

“We realised that there was need to start our own business to sustain ourselves as we perform our objectives since depending on others was unreliable and sometimes not possible. We realised part of our dream when we were called by Mascom to set a stall, where we were offered sponsorship of about P23 000 by Diaco Marathon, which has assisted us in establishing this restaurant,” he said.

Kegodile noted that 60 per cent of the proceeds would be used for the Bona Naledi programmes, while 40 per cent would be used for the operation of the restaurant.

In making sure that the restaurant kickstarts on a virtuous note, pledges amounting to P50 000 were received from different attendants, including others committing their services in making sure that the restaurant continues to thrive in serving an all Kasi delicious tastes such as menoto, ditlhogo, not forgetting the remarkable burger made of phaphatha named mayor’s burger, which was served to all those who attended.

Bona Naledi provides an appropriate atmosphere working with the affected youths by encouraging them to expose their talents in order to promote healthy lifestyles that can enable them to be recognised by the populace at large. ENDS