GTM and NYDA hold Youth Commemoration event
Young people of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality were invited to attend the event and arrived by the bus load in anticipation of the event on Friday.
The Mayor of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Councillor Maripe Mangena and members of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) hosted a Youth Commemoration event on Friday at the Letaba Showgrounds.
The event was initially planned as an official launch of the NYDA district office to be stationed in Tzaneen. However, the launch has since been postponed to allow the NYDA ample time to finalize logistical arrangements for the office as well as the allocation/appointment of personnel to run the office.
Young people of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality were invited to attend the event and arrived by the bus load in anticipation of the event on Friday.
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Mantsho Mpiti from the South African Youth Council told the LETABA HERALD, “We are expecting the community to come and celebrate with us. The event was put together in order to commemorate youth month.”
The event included speeches from two NYDA beneficiaries from the local area.
Kgauogelo Maponya (29), is a NYDA beneficiary and owner of Devine Glamour Spa, “I received funding from the NYDA back in 2014. They provided me with massage beds and a starter pack. The NYDA planted a good seed, I don’t know where I would be without their help.”
Maponya’s spa is at Ivory Tusk Lodge in Tzaneen. Her business is expanding rapidly, currently employing three therapists at her Tzaneen branch. She has also just opened a new branch in Phalaborwa. She also hopes to open beauty schools in the near future and partner with local lodges to offer beauty services to their guests.
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When asked about her speech today, Maponya said, “I want to encourage the youth and let them know that there are opportunities. But I am nervous! Usually my hands do the talking but today I must actually speak,” she joked.
The second beneficiary to talk at the event was Morris Matlala (31), the owner of Mokone Fish and Chips in Moime, close to Lenyenye. Moime told the LETABA HERALD, “The NYDA bought be a grill machine to cook the chicken on. I currently employ two people but I want to be bigger, I want to employ many people.”
