10 May 2021

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Tumiso Rakgare has been impressed by the youth in the Letlhakane Sub-district, who have ventured into various businesses after they were funded.

Speaking at the end of the tour of Youth Development Fund (YDF) projects in Letlhakeng and Moshaweng on Friday, the minister said all the projects were doing well despite the challenges emanating from COVID-19 pandemic and some were already servicing their loans.

One of the impressive youths was Mr Mpho Phetogo, who runs a brick molding business in Letlhakeng.

Although he has a degree in Mining, he quit his job to start his own company and this has paid dividends as he even has plans to expand his business.

He received YDF during the 2019/20 financial year having first started a construction company, but realised that bricks were expensive and he ventured into the industry.

Mr Phetogo said funding assisted him to pay salaries for his employees for three months and buy a brick molding machine.

He, however, said the business had experienced hiccups due to COVID-19, but was hopeful for the future.

Currently, he operates from a residential plot and he said he had applied for the industrial plot although the requirements were a stumbling block as they were to be tendered for.

The company produces blocks such as stock bricks, four and half as well as six inches blocks and in addition he sells crusher sand.

He said he was servicing his loan and would in future approach Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) for further funding.

The business has provided employment for six people, majority of them youths.

For Mr Goodwin Matlapeng, also of Letlhakeng, the P67 000 YDF loan has seen him expanding his gas business and from the profits he has been able to purchase a plot and developed it.

However, he said his major challenge was the delivery vehicle as he currently uses his mother’s car.

Mr Matlapeng explained that his customers include Choppies, restaurants, government institutions and individuals, adding that at times the demand exceeds supply.

Ms Wame Matsime runs a nursery school in Letlhakeng and was also funded by YDF to the tune of P97 000.

She said the funding enabled her to teach students computers and her dream was to use part of the funds to construct a swimming pool, but was not able to do so as she uses a rented plot and it is too small.

Ms Matsime said the COVID-19 pandemic had hit her hard as at the beginning of 2020 they had 40 students but by December the number had plummeted to 10 as parents were being extra cautious.

She however said this year the number had improved as they now had 17 students, adding that normally she had eight employees, but due to the low enrollment they were only six.

A 33-year-old Ms Magdeline Senkotle of Letlhakeng runs a beauty parlour, but has been able to soldier on despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said usually the festive season was a peak season due to wedding ceremonies, but restriction of weddings due to the pandemic had affected her business as people were no longer turning up for their hair do.

Mr Nichodemus Kaeparura, who originates from Pilane, but lives in Letlhakeng, owns a cellphone repair store and said he received P100 000 although he actually needed P700 000 for his business to fully run.

He said he was running against time as some well established business people were the major competitors and hoped he would be able to acquire a space in the still-under-construction bus rank structure.

In Moshaweng, Semajwe Mooko has been able to use profits from smallstock to acquire cattle, donkeys and horses as well as fence his farm.

He received funding in 2018 and started with 65 animals.

Minister Rakgare said he was impressed by the level of enthusiasm and commitment, especially since the funded youths aimed to fully repay their loans, hence the ministry would continue with its quest to fund more youths. ENDS