Bokone Bophirima MEC of Social Development, Ms Basetsana Sussana Dantjie, handed over a cheque to the enterprise as part of launching the Bokoni Bophirima department flagship programme Re thuse, re go thuse previously dubbed Taking DSD to Communities alongside the department agencies, NDA and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). Loosely translated it means help each other.

The department is advancing to rebrand itself, together with the agencies, to migrate from a hand to mouth approach linked to food parcels towards a welfare approach which engages communities to present what they already have, and how government programmes assist them to produce more sustainable livelihoods. The graduates at MaRocks approached NDA for assistance to expand on an existing operation. I hope these graduates here, inspire other young people to follow suit says the MEC.

While statistics show a slight reduction in unemployment within the province, she says the department still has a long way to go. Unemployment can be challenged by youth, and other vulnerable groups, taking up opportunities offered by government, including learnerships. Poverty speaks directly to the mandate of this department, this programme will allow for two-way engagements with communities, programmes formulation and the measurement of the impact thereof.

"We are now a fully-fledged, competent and competitive laundromat since acquiring the machinery and equipment from the NDA funding. Even during loadshedding, we can offer our services because as we have a back-up generator, the consistency of water supply through the tanks also makes business continuity a breeze for us. Our production capacity has doubled, and we are making a profit whilst still maintaining income for the four members. Two additional people have been trained to assist when we have many big orders. We now offer a local delivery service which has allowed a job opportunity for another person, says Tsholofelo Moeng, one of the managing members who completed her studies in Economic Management and Analysis from Tshwane University of Technology and a post-graduate certificate in Teaching from North-West University.

Mr Katlego Thateng, a local delivery service provider, has partnered with MaRocks Laundry Services to offer delivery services to their customers a good partnership as it allows both our enterprises to grow soon I will also be able to purchase another delivery scooter and employ another person if the business continues to grow, he says.

The NDA is a national poverty eradication agency of government that seeks to support, financially and non-financially, youth and vulnerable groups that have operational community enterprises that demonstrate the ability to create additional jobs, contribute towards skills development and sustainable livelihoods. Our intention is to identify these community enterprises and capacitate them before providing funding to advance their enterprises. We do not do this in isolation, we rely on other partners including municipalities to come on board, however for every grant recipient that we are able to take off the system towards a more economically viable livelihood, we start to win the fight against poverty eradication. We are excited to continue working with these graduates and grow their value chain prospects , says Mr Thabani Buthelezi, the NDAs Acting Chief Executive Officer.