17 Mar 2019

Hukuntsi Sub-district council chairperson, Ms Goratwamang Tlhage has implored poverty eradication beneficiaries to adopt best business practices to mitigate risks of their projects failing.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony for leather works training for Lehututu, Ngwatle and Inaphu beneficiaries, she said best business strategies could help increase sales, penetration of new markets as well as improved quality products.

She said often beneficiaries underwent skills training to grow their business, but would not utilise such skill to overcome business challenges but would rather abandon projects for Ipelegeng programme allowances.

She called on beneficiaries to do self-assessments and benchmark with similar businesses to improve their capabilities to reach desired results.

She also urged them to forge partnerships and harness their different skills to produce quality goods ready to compete in the global market. 

On the objectives of the event, acting senior assistance council secretary, Ms Keamogetse Mooki said the six-weeks training was meant to enhance and capacitate beneficiaries on leather works skills.

She implored them to put more effort on their projects and to grow them from being small scale businesses that could effectively improve their livelihoods, and to impart gained skills to young ones to continue the businesses into the future.

Giving an overview of the training, principal technical officer from animal production, Ms Catherine Modimoopelo said the training was not an easy journey as most beneficiaries lacked basic skills.

She noted that although under resourced with inadequate tools impacting on efficiency, they have through beneficiaries’ commitment and support from Lehututu tannery and Inaphu trust managed to pull through with a satisfactory performance.

Ms Modimoopelo implored the Social and Community Development (S&CD) to provide beneficiaries with all the essential tools.Kgosi Kebapatile Montshiwa encouraged departments to induct their beneficiaries more often if the programme was to achieve the desired results, and that beneficiaries should commit to such training so that government funding would not go to waste. 

Mr Gothusaone Mathiba from the Department of Veterinary Services lauded beneficiaries for their desire to learn and encouraged them to seek professional guidance which could grow their businesses to penetrate potential markets.

Lehututu/Maake councillor, Ms Judith Matebu said beneficiaries must work hard on their business.  The graduation was held under the theme: Empowering local structures for global competitive advantage.ENDS