KWAMHLANGA – Thembisile Hani Local Municipality hosted a Youth Connector session at Thembalethu Community Hall on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, bringing together young entrepreneurs, funding institutions and private sector buyers to connect youth-owned businesses with funding opportunities and potential markets.
Lebo Mashigo, founding CEO of Eggsellent and a beneficiary of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), shared her entrepreneurial journey during the session.
Addressing attendees, Mashigo said her business produces table eggs and operates as a commercial farm with the capacity to produce 30 000 eggs a day.
She said the business supplies Roots Butchery, is working towards supplying SPAR, and also sells to boarding schools and the public through resellers.
Mashigo said the National Empowerment Fund assisted her with infrastructure for 15 000 laying-bird spaces, while the NYDA provided R50 000 in start-up capital. She added that she also received support from the agricultural sector.
Encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their business ideas, Mashigo urged young people to apply for available funding opportunities to start businesses and create employment. She said the business currently employs 20 people.
William Mahlangu, an NYDA representative from the Witbank branch, encouraged young people to make use of the agency's support programmes.
He said there was no need for residents to travel to the NYDA office in Witbank, as they could access assistance through the municipality's Office of Social Development.
Mahlangu also encouraged young people to use their smartphones to access the NYDA website and its digital services. He further urged eligible learners to apply for NYDA funding to further their studies.
Accessibility for learners with disabilities was also raised during the session.
Tshepo Masemula, a teacher from Mzimhlophe Secondary School in Tweefontein J, highlighted the challenges faced by learners who use wheelchairs, particularly in accessing classrooms.
Responding to the concern, Orient Mahlangu, Executive Manager for Community Development Services at Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, said infrastructure upgrades fall under the Department of Public Works.
She said the municipality would first visit the school to assess the required upgrades before engaging the Department of Public Works. She added that similar assessments would also be conducted at other schools to help ensure learning environments are safe and accessible for all learners.
A municipal representative said the Youth Connector initiative would be used as a model for future sector-specific sessions aimed at linking young people to opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing and retail.
The municipality said it will continue working with the NYDA, the National Empowerment Fund and other partners to ensure beneficiaries receive ongoing support and market exposure beyond the event.
