Youth urged to start own businesses

This is the opinion of resident Tshepo Thipe (38), a local tuck shop owner.

Thipe identified a need for a tuck shop in his neighbourhood and started trading a year and a half ago.His business is run from an outside room on a property in Jacobs Street.

When Thipe first started out, business was slow due to a lot of competition in the area.

This, however, did not discourage him.

“If more businesses are opened, that means more employment for the youth,” says Thipe.

He employs one person, Amanda Ndlovu (34), who helps him with the daily running of the tuck shop.

Ndlovu has worked with Thipe since he started his business, and enjoys working for him.

“I’m learning a lot about the business, and maybe I will run my own business in the future,” she says.

Thipe feels that a lot of young people are afraid to open up their own establishments.

He states it’s difficult to source capital when first starting and this could be one of the reasons young people don’t open their own businesses.

Thipe believes that youth entrepreneurship could eradicate unemployment in our communities.

“There are many vacant shops that young people can run their own businesses from,” says Thipe.

In future, Thipe wants to run a wholesaler and venture into other types of business.