26 Apr 2021

 Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development has applauded Tonota youth for their commitment towards their businesses amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Tumiso Rakgare thus encouraged young business owners to continue to work hard so their businesses could grow.

He said this after visiting Tonota young entrepreneurs, among them Ms Hazel Bagwasi of Family Care toilet manufacturing company.

He said he was astonished by the branding of a toilet paper the company manufactured, something he said attested effort and hard work put forth by a young woman in her business.

Minister Rakgare also commended Ms Bagwasi for paying her loan before the grace period elapsed, adding that such showed some level of commitment in her business.

About her business, Ms Bagwasi said she was funded in 2020 to buy some equipment and material.

She said she bought machines which currently produced a lot of toilet paper at once and quickly.

She indicated that she had to employ some door-to-door sales persons as well as use the social media to market her product.

“I have different selling points in Tonota and I can go as far as Palapye and Serowe to sell my product,” she said, adding she had employed two people and  also engaged temporary workers for when orders became many.

Minister Rakgare also visited Mr Bernard Modise, who was funded in 2018 to open a shop that sold livestock feed.

Mr Modise narrated how he started small and would later expand his business and reinvest his profit, owing to high demand despite the competition.

He thanked his clientele for its support for his business, saying that had made him grow and had hired nine full time employees and a part time worker.

He also thanked government for the Youth Development Fund and he was happy that he had paid off the loan.

Another youth entrepreneur, Mr Bakang Pillar of TOTUMA Arable Farmers Association said he was funded in 2019, but only began to till the land in September last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Pillar was also disturbed by torrential rains, which started at the beginning of this year and swept almost everything he had planted and was forced to re-plant. 

However, he said he did not despair despite making a huge loss.

Like others, Mr Pillar said he had employed two assistants in the farm and promised to start paying his loan later this year because the harvest was promising.

One Tawanda Marare, who was funded in 2019 to start his brick molding business, was also among those on the minister’s tour list. 

He explained that he had five workers who operated the machines.

Minister Rakgare encouraged him to market his business well and not rely on the council. 

The minister also visited an Internet café owned by one Gaokgakala Tankiso, who was funded in 2020. Ends