The North West Provincial Administration is hard at work and will reach each and every corner of the province to ensure that all residents of the province receive the best health care possible, MEC for Health, Dr Magome Masike said on Friday.
MEC Masike said his department has so far made a number of achievements which include building fully equipped clinics in various villages to ensure that citizens receives proper health care services.
He said his department is serious about developing youth based in rural areas to ensure that they have best skills they need serve their communities. He cited a staggering increase in the number of youth that have been awarded bursaries to study medicine in Cuba this year.
“This year we have increased the number from 100 in 2012 to 180 for 2013. Initially only 30 students were recruited for this programme and this is a substantial improvement. It’s a huge percentage,” said MEC Masike.
MEC Masike was speaking at Welgeval village near Moruleng in the North West, where Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Thandi Tobias-Pokolo, accompanied by MEC for Economic Development Motlalepule Rosho and the Mayor of Moses Kotane Local Municipality,Councillor Fetsang Mokat-Thebei handed out certificates of registration to cooperatives owned by young entrepreneurs from the Moses Kotane Local Municipality, as part of the Youth Economic Empowerment Outreach Programme. Earlier in the day, MEC Rosho was at Bakgatlha Gate where she briefed a sectoral parliament on improving socio-economic condition of the province through tourism.
In addressing the outreach attended by over 500 young people from Welgeval and neighbouring villages, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Thandi Tobias-Pokolo said she was encouraged by the commitment and interest shown by the youth in Welgeval, adding that she saw a lot of potential in them and hoped they will be a good example to other young people in the area.
“The youth in this area have for the past two weeks been in contact with the dti and other stakeholders in an effort to formalise themselves and get their businesses off the ground.
“Our department, together with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), and Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) have done a lot in this area to make sure that young people are assisted in order to realise their dreams of formalising themselves into a business and become fully-fledged entrepreneurs,” said Tobias-Pokolo.
“I am accompanying DTI to tell you what the ANC-led government is doing for you,” said the Deputy Minister as she presented certificates to the budding entrepreneurs at the outreach meant to encourage the youth to establish businesses, particularly cooperatives, in an effort to create employment for themselves and other members of the community.
Municipal Manager of Moses Kotane Local Municipality Nono Dince, said the initiative was part of the second economy which is defined as an economy that is mainly informal, marginalised, unskilled and populated by unemployed and those likely to be unemployable in the formal economy.
Dince said those that are mainly affected by unemployment were women and youth in rural areas. She said the second-economy opportunity was crucial in municipalities such as Moses Kotane which comprises of 109 rural settlements.
“The rurality of the economy cannot provide sustainable job opportunities and has therefore limited potential for growth, hence the second economy intervention,” reiterated Dince.
Morena Pilane who represented Kgosi Nyalala Pilane of the Bakgatla Traditional Council said it was absolutely important that the government and traditional leaders cooperate if they hope to develop rural areas, create jobs and alleviate poverty.
“We need to find a way of working together to prepare our youth to take advantages of opportunities available, said Morena Pilane.
Precious Tau of Bontle Cleaning Service and Banking, one of the cooperatives that received the certificate of registration said she is ready for the challenge.
“This certificate means that our company is now dully registered and we can now begin to operate. I am confident that we will succeed and empower other youth as our business grows,” said the 21-year old Tau from Mositwane village.
Natasha Mabe (27) of Tswelelopele Internet Cafe and Catering Services said: “I am so excited about our company because it’s an opportunity to render much-needed services to our community and progress in life like the name Tswelelopele suggests.”
“We hope to empower other youth by creating job opportunities through our venture. We have identified a service that we know will benefit our community,” said 24-year old Thabang Ditshwene of Iketleng Car Wash and Cafe.
Various government departments and agencies were also available to provide first hand information and services including information on how register a company, how to form a cooperative, funding opportunities, business plans, bursaries, access to markets, training and mentoring opportunities and internship programmes-TDN
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