eMalahleni, the City of Coal, is heating the coal to make fire in all the industries. In a major achievement, two talented entrepreneurs from eMalahleni have secured a significant funding grant to take their business to new heights.

Bongani Malatsi and Thobile Mahlangu, both passionate about driving growth and development in their community, successfully pitched their innovative ideas to the Mpumalanga Tourism Youth Entrepreneurs.

After having to navigate the bit tough process of applying and having to pitch to a panel of judges, the two dynamic entrepreneurs made it to secure the investment.

An amount of money summing up to R3.6m from the Mpumalanga Tourism Youth Entrepreneurs was awarded to about 24 tourism youth businesses in Mpumalanga, with Thobile and Bongani getting an amount of money worth R442 000.

Thobile managed to secure R126 000 for her business, a beauty spa with Bongani securing R316 000 for his business.

“I am really happy to be one of the people who got this funding because it’s going to help me grow in the space of beauty and create jobs for others,” said Thobile.

With the competition pitching too high, the duo believed that only the sky was the limit. They fought tooth and nail to make sure they brought it home.

“This funding will help me to get equipment for my business and create jobs. I am encouraging young business owners to go to online platforms and look for opportunities there because they are there, and if they are not exposed to those online platforms, they won’t find them,” said Bongani.

The two entrepreneurs are excited and looking forward to creating and keeping jobs for people in their businesses.

They want to be behind the decrease in the unemployment rate in their areas. The duo is also pleading with young business owners to look for open doors online and enter where possible.

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