Remember the name Themba Mkhangeli, 29, the next time you hold the freshly minted R2 coin, which he designed.
The Western Cape-based Mkhangeli is among designers responsible for the new circulation coin series released by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) in September.
The series features deep ecology as the overarching theme and is the first complete set of coins to be issued in the country’s democratic dispensation.
An ambitious streetwear brand is soaring to new heights, thanks to the impressive groundwork of its determined founder Sandiso Sithole, 26, of Eskhawini in KwaZulu-Natal.
Sithole is the brain behind Eagle Eye Clothing, a trendy streetwear brand targeted at the youth.
Speaking to Vuk’uzenzele, he reminisced how the journey started in 2015.
In a tale of resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, a 26-year-old Gontse Hlongwane from Hammanskraal in Pretoria refused to let setbacks crush his honey production dream.
After his initial venture failed, Hlongwane recommitted to his training in beekeeping with Elephants, Rhinos & People (ERP), a community upliftment initiative that not only mentors fledgling beekeepers but also guarantees a market for their honey.
This second stint at training was in 2018 and he is now the proud founder of Dinokasi Bees and Honey cooperative.
Scores of residents in Mtititi village in Limpopo are able to escape poverty on a daily basis, thanks to community food gardens that are run through Thusong Service Centres.
Government established Thusong Service Centres (formerly known as Multi-Purpose Community Centres) in 1999 to refocus government services to meeting the basic needs of people, particularly those who live below the poverty line in rural and disadvantaged communities.
Poverty is a harsh reality for many South Africans and has devastating health deficits such as malnutrition, especially among children.
A food technologist who started experimenting with ingredients in her kitchen to make treats for the little ones in her family is now the owner of a low-sugar bespoke lollipop business.
Karabo Makhetha Masola, 25, of Alberton in Johannesburg had a promising career as a quality technician at a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company when the idea to create unique lollipops was sparked.
In a bid to alleviate the burden of rising living costs for households in Gauteng, the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF) is offering affordable rent options in quality-built housing units.
The GPF is an agency of the Department of Human Settlements and was established in 2002 to form private and public partnerships in order to speed up the development of affordable rental housing near amenities and economic opportunities.
Recently, the agency has partnered with the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) to launch a 72-unit housing development project at Harpur Avenue in Benoni.
Government’s flagship job creation programme, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), is set for a major shake-up in the months ahead.
The programme will be contributing to building better community infrastructure, empowering participants with training and skills to enter the job market and becoming entrepreneurs as part of their exit strategies.
Letter
Dear Vuk’uzenzele
I just wish to know if one wishes to start a business with no means of capital and only has an idea… what is the first thing for him or her to do?
Road Accident Fund (RAF) claimants and stakeholders are now able to contact the newly launched call centre to lodge complaints and get assistance with their cases.
From the Union Buildings
While we have made significant progress in recovering from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, most South Africans are feeling the pressure of rising prices and a slow economy.
