VANDERBIJLPARK. – “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. The ability to triumph lies within you.”
These words come from self-made entrepreneur Lebogang Lekotoko who is the founder of a first of its kind NDS Chefs Academy in the region. NDS Chefs Academy has opened up opportunities for the youth to become professional chefs in the Vaal Triangle where the tourism and hospitality sector seems to be rapidly growing.
In 2014 Lekotoko who has 19 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality sector completed the enterprising women programme at the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) at North-West University(NWU) Vaal Campus. Lekotoko holds an M-Tech (Masters) qualification in Food Service Management which she obtained at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) in 2008 and was privileged to serve VUT for over 12 years in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism.
Lekotoko says, “I was inspired to open a school in hospitality after seeing so many learners completing matric, but then become frustrated when traditional universities and universities of technology deny them acceptance due to low school marks.
“I believe that the power to make a difference in someone is to believe in their ability. For this reason I excel in training and upskilling others,” says Lekotoko who believes that entrepreneurship has got many attributes and can help grow the economy and alleviate poverty through skills development and creation of job opportunities.
Lekotoko’s motto is as Dr Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful tool we can use to change the world.”
