Municipal Support Boosts Young Eastern Cape Entrepreneur in Job Creation

Pretoria: A young Eastern Cape entrepreneur is turning the challenge of youth unemployment into an opportunity for job creation after opening a water supply business in kwaSdima, Cuba Township, with support from the Mnquma Local Municipality. According to South African Government News Agency, Pendula Mbali's Nikos Water Supplies, which supplies water, ice, and ice cream to the local community, exemplifies efforts to equip young people with the skills, resources, and support needed to establish sustainable businesses and create employment opportunities. The business was born from a vision Mbali first conceived in 2018 and became a reality following targeted support from the municipality's Local Economic Development and Planning Unit. As part of the support, Mbali completed the Basic Business Skills Programme and received his certificate during the business launch. The municipality also provided equipment valued at R110,000, including water treatment and filtration equipment, a reverse osmosis system, ice- making machinery, a filling table, and a water dispenser. Speaking at the launch, Acting Mayor and Portfolio Head for Strategic Management, Sisa Matutu, encouraged young people to move beyond seeking employment and consider entrepreneurship as a pathway to becoming job creators. Matutu said the municipality remains committed to supporting proactive young people with initiatives that could translate their ideas into sustainable economic opportunities. He cited the youth-led agricultural cooperative Ulutsha Lendalo as another example of how targeted municipal support can help young people establish sustainable ventures while contributing to the fight against youth unemployment. For Mbali, the establishment of Nikos Water Supplies is about more than building a successful business. He hopes his venture will encourage other young people to pursue entrepreneurship and contribute to the economic growth of the community. "When one business grows here, it opens the door for others," Mbali said. The launch demonstra tes how skills development, access to equipment, and government support can help young entrepreneurs turn business ideas into viable enterprises that contribute to job creation and local economic development.