About 45 young people from across different parts of Ekurhuleni attended the Ekurhuleni Business Council (EBC) Youth Empowerment Workshop on at Kempton Park Civic Centre on Janaury 16.
Yhe EBC provides avenues for partnerships between the public and private sector to advance the municipality’s development and job creation goals and includes representatives from both the municipality and business.
The workshop was led by EBC chairperson and secretary Archibald Maubane and a committee was established to advocate for youth business in the region.
The committee consists of Mordecai Ndlovu (Norkem Park), Katlego Rathete (Birchleigh), Dineo Dumse (KwaThema), Pinky Madhlala (Tembisa), Mqondisi Ntshangase and Confidence Sekonya (Katlehong), Lungile Kau (Vosloorus), Mcebo Xaba, Fikile Ngcongolo (Vosloorus), Raymond Matosa (Norkem Park) and Letoya Moloi (Benoni).
The Ciy of Ekurhuleni (CoE) is said to be one of the wealthiest regions in the country, but continues to have challenges in employment opportunities and access to youth business support.
CoE has made many positive strides to get communities in the region to participate in economic support programmes, supported by executive mayor Mzwandile Masina and MMC of Finance Doctor Xhakaza.
Maubane outlined the role of the EBC. He emphasised on applying the 10-point plan, an approach to governance that expands access to services to the most needy and poor, accelerating delivery and improving the quality of services, the City offers and upholds the needs of the poorest sections of the community.
“It is by this need that the youth wing takes shape to be an independent structure to advance youth business for access and ownership of CoE’s opportunities to youth and women,” said Maubane.
He elaborated on the need for youth to be active participants in the region by playing a strategic part of combating unemployment through innovation and entrepreneurial means.
