Social development MEC Siphokazi Lusithi has implored young people, particularly those in rural areas, to stop rushing to cities and towns to look for jobs and instead come up with business ideas to help develop their communities.
She said the provincial government was on hand to offer them support, including ensuring they received the necessary funding to make their ideas become a reality.
Lusithi was speaking after visiting the Bellarosa Agricultural Primary Co-operative in the rural outskirts of Mthatha.
Located in Ngcwala village, less than 20km from town, Bellarosa is a successful poultry project that was founded by four young people from the area in 2018.
The co-operative’s members are director Nobubele Nzima, 31, Siyavuya Mtengwane, 23, Bulumko Nqwazi, 27, and Thembelihle Nzima, 26.
Lusithi handed over a cheque of R350,000 to the co-operative, as well as a R307,000 cheque to Qumbu-based Luyanda Multi-purpose Primary Co-operative.
After visiting the Bellarosa project, the MEC lavished praise on its members, saying their work was a shining example of the government’s Vukuzenzele (get up and do it yourself) initiative.
“We really need young people who will be active in the economy.
“When we say young people should take the initiative, we don’t just want young people who only sell their labour in exchange for a salary.
“But we want to see young people who are able to be job creators, especially for other young people.”
She said this was because the government could not employ everyone.
For this reason, it was important that other young people were able to follow in the footsteps of the likes of the Bellarosa and Luyanda co-operative members.
She told Bellarosa members that their co-operative had great potential to expand.
It could also serve as an inspiration for many other young people, particularly those in and around the OR Tambo district.
“We are proud of what you doing.
“Our contribution as government will not end with financial assistance. But we will also link them to other opportunities that are there.
“You will inspire other youths who will see that you don’t have to leave your area to be successful.”
She said her department and the provincial government in general was equipped to help enhance the skills of youngsters and ensure their participation in sustainable livelihoods to achieve socioeconomic development.
Lusithi said to build the kind of Eastern Cape people envisaged, it was imperative that the government invested heavily in young people.
Nzima told the MEC, who was accompanied by OR Tambo district municipality deputy mayor Thokozile Sokanyile and King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality mayor Nyaniso Nelani, that the co-operative raised broilers for sale as well as layers to produce eggs.
He said its biggest challenge was not having adequate facilities from which to operate.
“We are short of facilities. We have a demand that is [more than] the supply because we don’t have enough facilities at the moment.”
The co-operative’s members initially clubbed together to buy about 200 chickens.
Today they keep more than 200 chickens in Ngcwala and more than 100 at Mayden Farm.
They sell broilers and eggs in Ngcwala as well as Mthatha and Mqanduli. Among their clients is the Hotel Savoy.
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