Pat On Brands donates R5 000 to a Soweto youth cleaning firm

The Youth-Owned Brands Awards (Yoba) is an initiative by Pat on Brands, aimed at recognising brands that are owned and run by the youth in South Africa.

Pat on Brands said they were devastated by the unexpected loss experienced by a youth-owned business in Soweto (MDU

Cleaning Services) as their premises caught fire due to loadshedding.

The comnpany issued a statment.

“Our main facility which we use not only for our cleaning services but also for storage, caught fire.

“It happened as a result of a short cause by a resurgence of electricity after the third phase of loadshedding stage 4,” it said.

“Using the premises for storage was a great contributor to the premises catching fire.

“Cleaning products are highly flammable, causing the fire to spread and not only to burn down the premises, but also burn the possessions of customers.”

The cpmpany was founded by Mduduzi Mnisi, and initially started in 2015 in Soweto, Orlando as Sayenza Lento Tekkie Wash.

MDU provides cleaning services for shoes, bags, cars and carpets.

Pat on Brands has donated R5 000 to help the company back on its feet.

The Pat on Brands initiative, Yoba, does not only exist to celebrate and recognise youth-owned brands.

The initiatvive stressed that it exists in order to also empower and uplift the youth of South Africa. “Just over a week ago, we were celebrating youth-owned brands at the Top 16 Youth Owned Brands Awards.

“As a youth owned business ourselves, we see it fit to lend a helping hand to fellow youth-owned business, Mdu Cleaning Services.

“We believe that what we can offer them can make a huge difference and help their business rise from the ashes,” said Pat Mahlangu, founder and CEO of Pat on Brands.

South African youth have a long history of challenging the status quo.

On 16 June 1976 – the date we now know as Youth Day, it all began.

Till this day, the youth are the drivers of economic growth and job creation in South Africa, Pat on Brands said.

Small businesses play a key role in growing our economy and creates jobs for over 60% of the country’s population.

This means that the more support this small business receives, the more people they can employ, the more successful and stronger our country becomes.

It will be wonderful to see other businesses, brands and companies that have the capacity to offer a helping hand aimed at growing our economy, says Pat on Brands. –

Premises burnt down due to load shedding