Free State Business 2022

FOCUS
Rethink, Restrategise, Reconnect
Focus on SMMEs at Youth Empowerment Week.
From left: Jade Wheelock, Trio-Plus, Lebogang Mphaka, De Beers Group
De Beers Voorspoed Mine, in partnership
with My Arts International, held the
12th Mangaung Youth Empowerment
Week in April 2021. Free State SMMEs
were invited to the event in order to gain a better
understanding of their challenges within the
business world as well as for them to connect
with other SMMEs.
The theme for the event was to Rethink,
Restrategise and Reconnect. Through the De Beers
Voorspoed Mine’s GODISA Programme, facilitated
by Trio-plus Development, entrepreneurs were
introduced to the programme and its benefits
at the Youth Empowerment week held earlier
in 2021. GODISA, which stands for Growth,
Opportunities, Decision-making, Innovation,
System and Accountability/Action, coaches,
mentors and trains with the aim of creating selfsufficient
businesses.
During the event, one of the De Beers
Zimele entrepreneurs, S’busisiwe Sithebe,
the owner of Buska Foods, was provided an
opportunity to showcase her products and
share her personal growth journey as well as
some of the challenges she has encountered
during this journey. Our commitment and
desire to actively encourage the development
of our local SMMEs has enabled the GODISA
programme to “Make Life Brilliant” in our
communities, especially in addressing the
impact of Covid-19 on small businesses.
Over 40 local SMMEs are enrolled for the
GODISA programme for the 2021 period, as
part of long-term business sustainability plans
beyond Voorspoed’s life-of-mine.
Chief Director Denis Ackulay, from My Arts
International, emphasised that, “The Mangaung
Youth Empowerment Week remains a shining
example of what can be achieved when a group
of young professionals are serious enough
about their futures.” ■
Busi Sithebe Buska Foods and Lebogang Mphaka,
De Beers Group
FREE STATE BUSINESS 2022
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