Young people who are striving to develop their businesses around Endumeni have recently experienced exploitation by companies who are enriching themselves by using their influence in government departments and municipalities to get funding in their names.
A group of 10 local youngsters contacted the Courier to say they are ‘fed up of being ‘misused’ after they were hired in April 2015 by MTL, a Newcastle-based company, to study business management.
“What was strange was that we were only called to study for our lessons in January this year.
“There were 32 students and we were promised a stipend of R1500 a month. We were also promised certificates after finishing the course,” the disillusioned youth. This course took place in a small room at the Oval sports grounds.
The Courier contacted one of the organisers of the project, Nathi Hadebe of Asikhule Youth Development, who confirmed that he is part of the project. together with Endumeni (LED) Manager, Thulani Ndlovu.
Mr Hadebe told the Courier that the students did not receive their stipends because of a student register that was not submitted on time.
According to Mr Hadebe, learners were promised to get their stipend on March 16.
A few days later learners were told that the LED Manager, Thulani Ndlovu, was expecting an email from the Department (EDTEA) who is funding the project.

The statement said: “therefore the first group of learners should receive their stipends at month end. Please note that the only stipend due to learners now is for one month only – January 18 to February 18.”

Later, the Courier was told that Mr Ndlovu had received the email from this department stating that the students from (MTL) will get their money at end of March.

The Courier is in a possession of the email after it was sent by Mr Ndlovu after a request from the Courier. According to the letter from Thami Zondi, who is the manager for Youth Economic Empowerment in the KZN Department of Economic Development, the delay in the paying of the stipend was not the fault of the service provider, (MTL) but it was on the side of the Department who are the ‘project owners’ and the Services (SETA) who are the founders of the programme.
The statement said: “therefore the first group of learners should receive their stipends at month end. Please note that the only stipend due to learners now is for one month only – January 18 to February 18.”

“The second monthly stipend will be processed in the second week of April. By April 18 all learners should receive the stipend,” said Mr Zondi in his statement.
The Courier was also told that there are another 32 students who have the same problem and who are doing the same course at Thalana High School. Up to last Thursday and Friday attempts to get Mr Zondi to comment on the latest issue were not successful.