The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) trained 27 young people from Langaville Ext 1 on starting and improving their businesses from October 12 to 16.

Participants received a certificate in cooperative governance, training, and starting a business, which will help them secure funding from NYDA and other institutions to boost their entrepreneurship.

The training was held at Mathulusi “Zaza” Zondo’s skills development centre in Langaville, a forum she and Mbulelelo Bhunu started in 2024.

Participants who completed the training and received their certificates are Sibonelo Sithebe, Tebogo Sekete, Natalie Buthelezi, Glacia Ntlatlane, Gabisile Lushaba, Malekgolo Sello, Nokuthula Manana, Pretty Khoza, Nokwanda Zungu, Thobekile Mondlane, Noxolo Matiwane, Philasande Khumalo, Sihle Ngwenya, Gugu Mkhuma, Nomthandazo Sibisi, Fridah Mojapela, Lungile Tshabalala, Trevor Mbala, Lehlohonolo Tau, Siyabonga Mahlangu, Pretty Monaiwa, Zinhle Dlamini, Lebo Sekiti, Boitumelo Sekiti, Eveline Moima, Samu Nkosi, and Mbulelo Bhunu.

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Mathulusi has an inspiring story herself: she was born at home, “between the shacks and dusty streets of Langaville Ext 1,” according to Motsamai Justice Mohale, a supporter and fellow Langaville resident.

Mathulusi is described as someone who has always been helpful: the little girl who fetched water when taps ran dry, walked the long road to school with holes in her shoes, never complained, and built herself and her community up.

She started with a business, an orange shipping container on Imibala Street that she converted into “Kasi Joint”, a kota shop that became the heart of Ext 1.

School kids stopped by after school, taxi drivers bought her chips, and unemployed youth did piece jobs with her for the day; through it all, Mathulusi proved that any young woman can be a businesswoman and create jobs where there are none.

“Selling kotas wasn’t enough for me. I saw kids who ate at my shop go home with no food, young girls dropping out of school, and started my NGO without funding or a big office,” she said.

Mathulusi ran programmes after hours in her same Kasi Joint container, helping elderly ladies get their SASSA papers right, giving sanitary pads to girls so they don’t miss school, and organising clean-ups in her community.

On top of this, “Zaza” acted in a locally produced movie called Secrets, a story telling the real stories of township life.

“On screen she wasn’t just acting, she was living the secrets of many women in Ext 1. Women who hustle in silence, who carry their families, who smile while struggling, and through the film she showed Brakpan that talent lives in Ext 1 too,” Motsamai said.

Mathulusi always says: “I listen, I care, I act, I deliver,” and people in Langaville believe her. They have tasted her food, been helped by her NGO, and also seen her on screen telling their truth.