‘ARMED with education, young people across KZN should take part in the mainstream economy.
‘We can’t be talking about economic emancipation, when young people shy away from grabbing opportunities that the government present.
‘However these opportunities warrant that people should first be educated. There is no way you can run a business if you are not educated.’
This sentiment was shared by the Chief of Staff in the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Kwazi Mshengu.
He was addressing an ANC Youth League Musa Dladla Region Business Breakfast held last week at the Richards Bay Hotel.
‘We have witnessed in the past, people working for the economy, but we are yet to see the economy working for them. We have also not been able to tamper with the structures and the value chain of the economy.
‘As the government we have put in place programmes to ensure that our people do benefit from the country’s economy. As a start we see nothing wrong with people benefiting through the tender system, but that is not enough.
‘We have programmes such as Operation Vula, which we feel will be beneficial to our people. As a government we don’t see why can’t we buy goods and produce from our own people.
‘When we have awarded a tender for a housing project in Ngwelezana, building materials should be bought from local businesses operating in Ngwelezana. In that way we would have empowered our local people, that’s how we define empowerment. We remain committed to creating successful black businesses.
‘Our message is clear, please organise yourself into co-operatives and the government will assist you,’ he said.
Mshengu added it was no use for people to demand land if they were not going to use it.
‘When we bring back the land, you must make it productive. Let’s lease it to co-operatives to use it for different produce. I also wish to appeal to young people in business to target sectors that are relevant to our economy. It is no use having many people studying theology, than skills related studies. The ANC government is open and let’s make use of these opportunities,’ he said.
According to ANC Youth League Regional Chairperson, Phiwe Mhlongo, the fundamentals of this gathering was to network with corporate sectors and get to know them better.
There was also an interaction between local business leaders and the leaders of the ANC Youth League.
The session was also addressed by the City of uMhlathuze Mayor, Cllr Mdu Mhlongo.
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