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Youth clash with fund

Malose Kekana. Pic Russell Roberts. 28/1/04. © FM
Malose Kekana. Pic Russell Roberts. 28/1/04. © FM

Canaan Mdletshe andMhlaba Memela

Canaan Mdletshe andMhlaba Memela

KwaZulu-Natal youth have taken the Umsobomvu Youth Fund to task, saying they do not know what the fund has done for them.

At the sitting of the youth parliament at KwaDukuza on Thursday complaints were made that the fund had failed to cater for the needs of the youth, especially those with business ideas and vision.

Khayelihle Dlamini, from Mandeni, said he could not access the fund because it was "basically for urban" people.

"We battle to find financial assistance from the fund because it's too urbanised. There's big development taking place in Ballito, but we can't get opportunities to do something there because we don't have finances due to Umsobomvu's failure to help," he said.

Sebenzile Mzila said she has been desperately trying to get a bursary from the fund but had been sent from pillar to post.

But Sipho Mbatha, the fund's provincial chairman disputed the allegations.

"We have helped many young people, but many failed to survive 12 to 18 months down the line because they don't know how to sustain their business . it's a weakness that we are trying to rectify," he said.

Nhlakanipho Ntombela, chairman of the provincial youth commission, encouraged youth to work together and said they should approach the commission if they needed advice.

Meanwhile, a partnership has been formed in KwaZulu-Natal to encourage youth to benefit from economic opportunities for the 2010 World Cup and beyond.

The Umsobomvu Youth Fund (UYF) in partnership with eThekwini municipality and the provincial Department of Economic Development and Youth Entrepreneurship will provide youth with business skills including advice on accessing funding from financial institutions.

The trio is targeting 100000 entrepreneurships by 2010 and will unveil their strategy at a conference for youth economic empowerment at the Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre from June 19 to 22.

Malose Kekana, pictured, UYF chief executive, said: "The conference will look at innovative ways to promote a culture of entrepreneurship among our youth."

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