Joblessness will be a thing of the past for the initial 35 residents of Botshabelo after the official opening of the new bed manufacturing firm in the area on Tuesday. The firm, situated at the industrial area, which houses premises previously unoccupied for 20 years, was inaugurated by Premier Ace Magashule and MEC Zwane.
The King’s Comfort (Which is the nifty name of business), is the brainchild of two young men, Andries Taljaard and Molefe Molefe who approached the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs earlier this year to pitch the idea.
“The office of MEC Msebenzi Zwane did not waste time and bought into the idea, which is now home to previously disadvantaged individuals,” Taljaard said.
According to Zwane, the business will eventually employ 144 people in its next financial year.
“The intake in this business is in line with government’s plans of creating employment for young people by employing more than the required 60 percent of youth. More so, the youngest staff member, 19-year-old Nyakallo Mosole lost his father and is taking care of his younger sister, ensuring that she gets to school and gets a good education,” Zwane said.
Mosole said that the opportunity has turned his life into a worthwhile one. “Today I am a better person amongst my peers, the way they greet, talk and interact with me has changed,” he said.
The business will operate from the premises rent-free for the next 12 months, according to Premier Ace Magashule. He said that it did not make sense that the landlord stayed with the building unoccupied for 20 years and suddenly jump into charging rent to a new tenant who has not done much sales, especially who received government support.
“These people have only produced about 350 beds so far and haven’t made any substantial income. Let us be fair, hence I have even engaged my colleagues that government must support this business and procure these beds for the farm hostels that are currently under construction,” he said.
Source: dumelangnews.co.za