BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The 3rd Supadrift Series Extravaganza gave small businesses extra edge to succeed. The Sportainment was hosted by Department of Economy and Enterprise Development in partnership with Ultrapex Communications managed by Rolance Molapisi, drifter from Mahikeng from 25-26 September 2015 in the parking area of Mmabatho Stadium.

The initiative was part of departmental mandate to support the small business sector as one of trajectories of economic growth through encouraged job creation and economic inclusion initiatives.

MEC Wendy Nelson said: “By supporting Molapisi, we are inculcating the culture of entrepreneurship with a possibility of aspiring young entrepreneurs being exposed not only to driving in this crowd pulling sporting activity, but exposure to opportunities in the niche markets of mechanization and textile industries within the sporting arena.”

Nelson further added that the event further provided a platform to activate vibrant economy for the realization of the Mahikeng Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal Plan (MRRRP) as was launched by premier Supra Mahumapelo earlier this year to put Mahikeng back in the spotlight as the capital city of Bokone Bophirima.

Addressing people of Mahikeng and visitors from other places who were full of excitement, Nelson said that the partnership was forged to mitigate the challenges of youth unemployment and to showcase that government can work closely with entrepreneurs with the view of improving ordinary life of our communities in general.

The crowd puller sport brought the spinoffs to trickle down entrepreneurs both in the formal and informal business sectors, and thus created direct economic benefit through consumables.

“Young people should take advantage of available skills in areas of mechanics, driver development, textile and related activities which cannot be ruled out”.

Nelson said that the event can also be considered as a composite sector that contributes to hospitality, tourism and transport.

Young aspiring entrepreneur like Naledi Tsetse,33, and a mother of 3 residing in Motlhabeng village were afforded an opportunity to sell food and fizzy drinks during the event.

Naledi was the owner of the gazebo that was selling food daily in Mmabatho Stadium parking lot.

According to department, she started her business three years ago with Lesley Tlholatlung from Rooigroond.

They sold pap and meat to government employees and taxi drivers during lunch time.

“We have not yet registered a company but after making a profit of R1000 in a day we are surely going to accept the assistance from the department to register a cooperative so that we can formalise our business and make more money for our kids” Naledi said.

Nelson also urged young people to use untapped opportunities like this kind of an event to come up with innovative initiatives that can enable them to venture into and participate in the mainstream economy of the province without re-inventing the wheel.

“We have also established an economic empowerment fund to assist qualifying enterprises with equipments and raw material and to date we have offered assistance to approximately 30 businesses inclusive of women and young people across all the sectors,” she said.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_