Small businesses benefit from Vumatel’s fibre network

The installation of underground optic fibre telephone cables around most parts of Kathorus is beginning to yield results for many young, technology-savvy people who are venturing into the workplace or planning to start their businesses.

This came to light during a workshop hosted by Vuma held at the Laerskool Leondale hall on May 22.

At the workshop, active young entrepreneurs described how Vumatel fibre has opened doors for them.

Nokuzola Flatela described how her passion for teaching has catapulted her passion into an international career. She teaches English in Asia and Eastern European countries.

To top it up, Nokuzola has taken her success a step further and established what she described as her educational academy, which she calls Amila Training.

“In 2018 I started teaching English online and fell in love with it. I realised there are endless opportunities online people are not exposed to. I made it my duty to ensure I expose young people to these opportunities. This is how Amila Training was born,” said Nokuzola,

“A world of opportunities lies in teaching English online to non-English speakers.

“Over the years, learning English was not a major requirement in Asia. But now many Asian governments have realised the need for Asians to start learning to speak the English language. My project has been gradually growing,” said Nokuzola.

She told Kathorus MAIL there are opportunities for English-speaking South Africans to teach English in Asia and other foreign countries where the demand is high. She added that there are as many as 100 schools in one particular Asian country that need English-speaking people to teach locals how to speak English.

Nokuzola, who is now 37, matriculated at 16 and enrolled for a public relations management course at Wits Technikon, also known as the University of Johannesburg.

“I chose PR simply because it involves working with people,” she said. Qualification requirements for teaching English in Asia varies from country to country, explained Nokuzola, who said in some countries it is possible to teach without a degree.

“Some employers and institutions may consider it necessary to have a TEFL certificate, while a university degree can also be of value. Other schools may only consider a basic teaching qualification as sufficient.

“Some schools are happy with knowing you have a good command of the English language. Where there is a high demand for teachers, there are no statutory requirements, employers may accept candidates without a degree.

“The most important thing is to have a TEFL certificate,” explained Nokuzola. She explained that Amila Training assists locals who are interested in obtaining a TEFL certificate.

“Over the years, Asia had a tendency to hire TEFL teachers on superficial criteria, namely race. However, things have changed now. All English-speaking countries are getting opportunities, even black South Africans,” said Nokuzola.

For all this to be possible, she said she has nothing but praise for her Vumatel connectivity that provides easy access to the internet.

“I don’t think I would be where I am today without the fibre network.” Perhaps the most interesting presentation was that of Lindokuhle Khumalo, who described himself as having been thrown into the deep end of corporate business. But he said through determination and hard work, he was able to swim ashore and find his footing.

“That is when I decided to look into the different positive aspects of how I could make myself valuable to the small businessman in the townships,” said Lindokuhle, who said his BlackList business is aimed at empowering small businesses.

Like Nokuthula, Lindokuhle said his breakthrough was made possible by the opportunities provided by the installation of the Vumatel fibre network in his area in Vosloorus.

He added that this is what has made him one of the first black young entrepreneurs to share a warehouse with Takealot.

Lindokuhle said he wants to see more companies owned by young people in the townships featured in the BlackList directory.

He described his business module as home-grown packed with business opportunities that can see a small business in the townships grow in leaps and bounds.