MEC Mohale touches lives of young people
“Growing youth empowerment for an inclusive and transformed society”
In efforts to develop, empower and support young people in business, the Free State MEC for Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA), honourable Makalo Mohale initiated an impactful outreach programme aimed at improving the living conditions of the young people in the Province.
This initiative seeks to support seven identified local businesses with financial injection after being profiled and capacitated to ensure that such businesses remain sustainable. The programme will also entail cleaning of the township, eradication of illegal dumping sites and general cleaning and greening of the township. With regard to the promotion of tourism attraction points and destination, the identified areas will be visited for assessment to measure the possibility of being revitalized.
Furthermore, illegal confiscated gambling machines will be destroyed and there will also be an interactive exhibition stalls such as youth organisations inclusive of School of Hospitality, SEDA, FDC, FSGLTA, NYDA and Central University of Technology to share Tourism and business opportunities for young people intending to venture into business as well as registration, compliant processes and consumer affairs.
“As the Department we are operating within limited resources hence we are intending to uplift and support local businesses especially focusing on disadvantaged and rural areas around municipalities such as: Kopanong, Phumelella Masilonyana, Setsoto and Tokologo because the youth of today, unlike those of 1976, is faced with more complex challenges being unemployment, drugs and alcohol abuse.” said MEC Mohale.
Asked how he will tackle the Economic and Tourism challenges besetting the Free State province, MEC Makalo alluded “with the support of the relevant stakeholders and commitment from the young people, we will enhance specific methods and tested approaches of improving our economic sectors. We will develop and implement systems that will take our province towards a positive developmental trajectory. I call on all stakeholders to continue to support us to achieve the objectives and mandate of the department.”
As abovementioned, the department has intensified its outreach programme by escalating it to different local municipalities across the province to allow open and transparent platform to encourage youth to participate in the mainstream economy. This must happen in order to minimize the scourge of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Following the first outreach programme held in Phillipolis, Kopanong Local Municipality; the second instalment of the implementation will be held as follows:
Date: Friday, 24 June 2022
Time: 10:00
Venue: Memel Stadium (near Phumelela Municipality offices)
Issued by the Communications Unit. Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs. Mr. Tiisetso Makhele on 0768330033 or makhelet@destea.gov.za OR makhelets@live.com
For media inquiries, please contact:
Mr. Mojalefa Mphapang on 0727126617
mphapangm@destea.gov.za OR mpmphapang@gmail.com
