Twenty-four, young and upcoming Mpumalanga tourism entrepreneurs have received a large cash injection.
The beneficiaries each received a cheque, ranging from R145, 833 to more than R300 000, during a gala dinner at the Tfokomala Hotel on 18 March. The R3.5 million was generated by Mpumalanga’s Tourism Youth Fund (MTYF), which was launched last year.
According to Makhosazane Masilela, the provincial MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, the beneficiaries would be monitored on how they implement the money. “We have launched this programme as the provincial government in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency [NYDA]. We need to indicate that we will support them financially and non-financially. We will be monitoring the money that we gave them as they know that these are public funds that we need to account for. Therefore, we will follow up in each and every cent they spend. Additionally, we will also provide the beneficiaries with training with other sector departments,” she said.
The MTYF aims to empower young tourism entrepreneurs, through not only financial assistance, but other resources as well in order to enable them to expand their businesses. The Fund is part of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the NYDA. Both entities would contribute 50% of R6 million annually over a period of three years.
Some of the beneficiaries included the founding owner of Glam Wellness Spa, Felicia Mkhaliphi, who said she wanted to expand in order to employ more people. Makhosazane Maseko, owner of Uyi Spa, said she started her business in 2017 and had been financially assisted on her journey by the NYDA.
“This business owns its own land and makes an annual profit of R550 000. With the latest cash injection, we could have an annual income of R1.6m and employ more people.” Zakithi Mhlongo, owner of the Driekoppies Dam Boat Cruise, like the others, said she intends employing more people and expand the business with her share of the money
