20 Jun 2018

Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development has approved and funded 142 Youth Development Fund (YDF) projects in the Nkange constituency at a cost of more than P13.5million since its inception.

Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development Mr Dikgang Makgalemele told Parliament that YDF beneficiaries were considered to have graduated from the programme once they had completely settled their loans and had reached the duration of agreement, which was five years.

Mr Makgalemele said in that regard none of the beneficiaries had graduated from being helped by the ministry and that the ministry officials were obliged to regularly monitor their projects until they met the set conditions.

He said there were 125 operational projects to date and have employed a total of 265 individuals.

Mr Makgalemele said 17 YDF projects had collapsed due to various reasons including, but not limited to, poor business management skills, inadequate marketing, high rentals, lack of commitment by beneficiaries, outbreak of Newcastle disease for poultry projects and small stock theft.

He was responding to Nkange Member of Parliament Mr Edwin Batshu, who had asked the minister to state the number of YDF projects that were approved in Nkange constituency since its inception and the cost thereof and the number of applicants who have been successful to the extent that they have graduated from being helped by the ministry.

Mr Batshu also wanted to know the operational projects to date and the number of people employed in such projects and as well as he projects which had collapsed and the reason thereof.ENDS