Boost for entrepreneurs
Many join anti-drug campaign on Youth Day
HUNDREDS of people – both young and old - from Mlungisi, Ezibeleni and Whittlesea gathered at the Mzingisi Skweyiya hall in Mlungisi for the drugs and alcohol awareness campaign organised by crime-fighting initiative Iliso Lomzi to celebrate Youth Day on Tuesday.
The celebration marks 39 years since the uprising on June 16, 1976 and 21 years since South Africa attained freedom and democracy.
Local doctor Kholekile Shasha, said the youth must focus on their books and on how to build the nation. “No one will give you things, you need to come up with ideas on how to develop this country because we are in an ideological battle,” he said.
Shasha said alcohol and drugs were poison. “They affect your education. If the youth do not use drugs and alcohol they will go forward. God has given people choices - drink alcohol or not,” he said.
Young people had to pursue healthy lifestyles. “In order to change the country you must change the way you are living.”
He said Iliso Lomzi was an organ- isation that protected everyone.
“Iliso Lomzi are God’s soldiers. People will attack them, but they will succeed,” he said, adding that he would do urine tests on the members of Iliso Lomzi. “If someone is found to have used drugs, they will be fired.”
Mzwandile Ngondo of Iliso Lomzi thanked the people who attended the event.
“Iliso Lomzi is now present in the whole of the Chris Hani district. People who do not follow the rules are shown the way. We appreciate the support we get from the community,” he said.
Ngondo said Youth Day celebrations used to be organised by the ANC YOUNG entrepreneurs in the renewable energy sector were the focus of a workshop hosted by the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) in Queenstown recently.
The main objective was to promote the energy sector by promoting the flow of information to young entrepreneurs and to enable their participation in the sector and by exploring career opportunities available at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Lovedale FET College, Walter Sisulu University and Ikhala FET College.
The workshop was also used to Youth League, but they had lost momentum as some did not have the interests of the community at heart. “We still have a huge role to play in changing the lives of the poor people in our community,” he said.
Chairman of Iliso Lomzi, Mncedisi Mbego, said they were writing to all those who were selling drugs in Mlungisi, telling them to stop it.
“We used to have marches against drugs and alcohol, but this year we decided to have this awareness campaign and to show people that we are tired of drugs in our communities. We want to stop these people who are killing our children by selling drugs to them.” create a platform to create business networking channels.
The renewable energy sector was highlighted as a way to capitalise on the spiralling energy crisis facing South Africa.
Stanley Semelane, who presented the opportunities for small, medium and micro enterprises, said the Eastern Cape had the most opportunities with 50% of the wind farms in the country, under the renewable energy independent power producers’ procurement programme.
DEDEAT communications manager Sixolile Makaula said, “With the need to create various energy sources for sustainable energy gen- eration, the renewable energy sector is seen as an opportunity to stimulate the youth to participate in the mainstream of the economy. The sector has enormous potential for job creation through fast-tracking skills development.”
Stakeholders present included representatives of the Department of Energy, Industrial Development Corporation, Services SETA, Eastern Cape Development Corporation, Small Enterprise Development Agency, the District Youth Council, Chris Hani District Municipality and surrounding local municipalities. Manufacturers in the renewable energy industry also attended to showcase their products.