By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – SMMEs from Phuthaditjhaba and Kestell received business equipment from the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) as part of celebrations to mark Youth Day, at an event held at Phuthaditjhaba multipurpose hall.
One of the beneficiaries Maditaba Sithole of Sithole Clan Trading based in Kestell told The Guard she was very happy to receive an industrial sewing machine and an over-locker.
Zana Moloi who owns Zano’s Exclusive Hair Salon was also excited to receive equipment which she said will help run her hair salon better. She too resides in Kestell.
The keynote speaker at this celebratory day was Chief Whip Moeketsi Lebesa who gave a heartwarming speech to the business men and women who were gathered there.
“Women are the backbone of our society; they bear the most brunt when it comes to raising families and building communities. Women in business are like oxen that carry a trough and push forward despite the hardships and challenges. This assistance that is given by SEDA, let it be the parabolic mustard seed that grows into a big and gigantic tree so that one day the businesses gathered here today can be a testimony for others,” Lebesa said.
The MMC of local economic development (LED) Bridgette Lebesa told The Guard: “As the municipality we are very proud to see this gesture by SEDA, because small businesses are the building blocks of the local economy. We have salon owners, catering businesses which I am going to make a follow up on to see how their businesses grow with the assistance of the appliances that SEDA has given them.”
The Thabo Mofuthsanyana district municipality branch manager from SEDA Lesego Zangele said this programme aims to empower small businesses.
“The businessmen and women gathered here are not just getting these appliances, but they also got training in financial management and hygiene and food preparation. So far we have managed to support about 400 SMMEs through this programme,” Zangele said.
