14 Aug 2016

Southern District’s principal home economist, Ms Kamogelo Theetso, has hailed the poverty eradication programme for playing an active role in transforming lives .

Speaking in an interview during the Southern District cluster exposition in Kanye on August 11, she said over 600 people benefited from the programme in her area of jurisdiction since inception of the programme in 2012.

She noted that six projects were unsuccessful, 62 were flourishing while the remaining number was doing well.

Projects ranged from catering, tent hire, paper recycling, sewing and pottery, among others.

She said the Southern District Council engaged beneficiaries for services such as tent hiring, catering, decoration and sound system when they host events as a way of empowering them.

Ms Theetso, however, explained that the slim markets posed a threat to beneficiaries’ businesses but noted that there were measures in place to deal with the draw back.

She said the council organised market days as a way of breaking market barriers, adding beneficiaries should work on penetrating the international market as well as enhancing their products and services to ensure that they can compete in the global market.

Ms Theetso said they organised training through Out of School Education and Training (OSET) for beneficiaries to acquire requisite skills in business management so that they can run their enterprises in a cost effective and efficient manner.

“Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) also lends a helping hand in mentoring beneficiaries to ensure that their businesses remain buoyant,” she said.

A beneficiary of poverty eradication programme, Ms Dipogiso Kenathata, who is into fashion design business expressed appreciation of the programme noting that machinery was availed to her to kick-start the business.

Ms Kenathata said Southern District Council sent her to Ramatea Vocational Training Centre in Kanye for a six weeks long fashion and design course to acquire the necessary skills in the industry of which after successful completion she was given a package in 2014 to kick-start the business.

She said the fashion design business flourishes in summer and slow in winter but however noted that she is grateful to the government that she can put bread on the table.

She said she deploys different marketing strategies to break business barriers, adding she sells to individuals, business people and is now negotiating with some schools which are due to perform during the country’s golden jubilee celebrations to sell Bot50 merchandise or attire to them.

She said such attire will help schools to have an expressive performance during celebrations. Her fashion design business that is located sells an assortment of bedding and clothing.

Ms Bonolo Selotlego, managing director of Diamond Hand who exhibited at the expo said creativity is critical to keep the business buoyant and therefore implored fellow business people to be innovative. She said innovation determined the unique selling preposition (USP) of the business hence the uniqueness of the product that gives it comparative advantage over its competitors.

She is into tent hire and resorts to scintillating flower decoration that leaves the eye asking for more.

Her business situated in the heart of Ralekgetho handled celebrations of any magnitude ranging from weddings, social gatherings and merrymakings. ENDS