By: Siyabonga Sithole
JOHANNESBURG – The Free State and Gauteng provincial governments recently launched their Bizniz in a Box programme, aimed at giving young entrepreneurs a chance at success without businesses.
The programme is part of a collaborative effort between Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) with the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) and the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship during the month of June, which is dedicated to issues affecting young people.
This joint programme comes just when the country, through Statistics South Africa, announced a slight decrease in unemployment numbers for the first quarter of 2022 which saw a decrease from 35,5% to 34,8% indicating that the country gained about 370 000 jobs in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.
This positive outlook, however, has done little to impact the lives of many other young people who are unable to find jobs in a competitive labour market as youth unemployment rate continue to soar.
Coca-Cola managing director Velaphi Ratshefola said youth unemployment continues to be a concern as the number of young people employed in both the formal and informal sector remains high, at over 1.8 million below the levels reached before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This is an untenable situation and as CCBSA, we believe in using our industry leadership to be part of the solution to achieve positive change in the country and build a legacy that we can be proud of. Hence our strong emphasis on economic inclusion, particularly of young people through our Bizniz in a Box BiB initiative.
MEC for Economic Development in Gauteng, Parks Tau said this initiative, which has been happening since 2016, could not have come at better time as the country celebrates Youth Month.
“The department is excited about this initiative and encourages young people in Gauteng to take advantage of it and other programmes aimed at youth empowerment offered by the province such as Tshepo 1 Million,” Tau said.
The Bizniz in a Box initiative is one of many other initiatives that the province is embarking on in its bid to connect young people with opportunities in the province.
According to the department, young people with a South African Identity Document can enter the Bizniz in a Box competition on Lesedi FM, where they are required to do a 90-minute elevated pitch live on the Thakgoha Show, where the best presentation chosen by a panel stands a chance to win one of ten mobile kitchens valued at R82 000 each.
To be considered, young people need to be between the ages 18-35 years of age, with at least one year entrepreneurial experience, ideally with an ability to recognise the needs of the community such as convenience stores.