Small businesses benefit from social impact imbizo

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA – Members of the Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) community gathered at the Phuthaditjaba Multipurpose hall as Premier Mxolisi Dukwana and MECs from various government departments handed over resources to beneficiaries at a social impact imbizo held on 10 November.

Before addressing the residents, Premier Mxolisi Dukwana alongside Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Saki Mokoena handed over two tractors to Mahadi Mopeli of Quarrihoek Farm in Warden and Puleng Molala of Witstand farm in Senekal.
Molala said she started out growing vegetables in her backyard garden and enthused that she is on the threshold of becoming a commercial farmer.

“I am a hard worker who loves farming, and I started planting vegetables in my own garden. I plant crops and do agro-processing with my produce. I can’t drive a tractor but I know how I am going to utilize it. I am very happy to receive this tractor and use it productively,” Molala said.

The Free State Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Limakatso Mahasa and her team identified two street vendors who were selling snacks and refreshments at the venue and immediately made them beneficiaries of a lightweight cooler box pushcart complete with an umbrella, to assist them with storing their stock.

One of the recipients, Lerato Moruti, told The Guard: “I am very happy to receive this mobile cooler box; now I am going to worker even harder and go everywhere.”
Another ecstatic recipient, Monti Mosebi, thanked the MEC and the municipality, adding that the cooler box would help her with storage and make it easier for her to get around.

Farmer Mahadi Mopeli receiving a key for her tractor from FS Premier Mxolisi Dukwana in the company of Agriculture MEC Saki Mokoena, Map executive mayor Masetjhaba Lakaje-Mosia.

Speaking at the event, Dukwana said it was high time beneficiaries of government support started being held accountable because a lot of businesses that benefit from government support waste funds as they do not complete the work that they are contracted to do.

“When you are in business you need to be qualified and skilled in your profession. A businessperson cannot ask government for support and when asked with what they say with everything. The government cannot support businesses with everything, you as a businessperson must take the necessary risks to grow your business and know how the government can assist you through the different programmes that are run by the different departments of government,” Dukwana said.

Among those present at the event were Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nomasonto Motaung, Thabo Mofutsanyana district municipality executive Mayor Conny Msibi and the MAP local municipality executive mayor Masetjhaba Lakaje-Mosia.