Mbombela — About 31 youth-owned tourism businesses in Mpumalanga recently received R4-million worth of grant funding through the Mpumalanga Tourism Youth Fund (MTYF) ceremony.
The ceremony was hosted on 30 January 2026 by the Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). It aims to strengthen their participation in the province’s tourism economy by supporting young entrepreneurs in expanding and sustaining their businesses.
Mpumalanga MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Jesta Sidell, said the funding followed a rigorous application process after the department advertised the opportunity last year.
“Funding alone is not enough. Sustainability, skills development and proper business management are just as important if these businesses are to grow and create jobs,” Sidell said. The department’s partnership with the NYDA is intended to ensure long-term sustainability, not just financial support.
She explained that the fund is designed to support youth who are already contributing meaningfully to tourism through diverse products and services, particularly in rural and township areas where opportunities have historically been limited.
“As government, in partnership with the private sector, we have a collective responsibility to provide economic stimulus packages geared towards propelling our youth-owned enterprises to participate meaningfully in the mainstream economy. Accordingly, the MTYF is one catalytic intervention which will serve as a strategic weapon for [the] government in its quest to uproot the stubborn triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality,” said MEC Sidell.
The beneficiaries operate in various parts of the tourism sector, including accommodation, tour operations to creative and niche tourism services.
NYDA’s Executive Chairperson Dr Sunshine Myende, shared a commitment to ensuring that young people are active participants in economic development.
“Our mandate as NYDA is to advance youth economic participation and empowerment. Partnerships such as this one in Mpumalanga, which establishes a dedicated provincial youth fund, are a powerful model for turning that mandate into a tangible opportunity. Mpumalanga is commended as one of the few provinces to have established such a dedicated youth fund. It is our sincere wish that many other provinces will follow this exemplary lead,” said Dr Myende.
Post-investment support for the funded businesses will be delivered through a collaborative approach involving Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency, Standard Bank and other key stakeholders.
This support will include financial literacy and compliance training, business advisory services, mentorship and linkages.
