​Sizwe Sekgope is an entrepreneur and one of the young people who attended a one-day Entrepreneurial Seminar hosted by the Gauteng Department of Social Development in partnership with West Rand Youth Development at Kagiso Archives Centre, on Wednesday.
The purpose of the seminar was to provide young entrepreneurs with skills on how to run their businesses and so that they can increase their market.

Successful local entrepreneurs around West Rand townships shared their journeys with emerging business owners.

“I used to sell sweets on the street after matriculating. I felt pressure from my peers as I watched them getting into taxis to further their studies at Western TVET College (Wescol). At the time I thought I took a wrong path. I expanded my business by adding chicken feet. I wrote a business proposal and I managed to secure funding of about R3 million. However, I made a mistake by moving to Sandton. I spent all that money in a short space of time, and as result I ended up being broke”, explained Sekgope.

He added that “I got hooked on drugs and lost a lot of weight. I realised my life was falling apart, I approached the West Rand Youth Development Centre funded by Gauteng Department of Social Development. The centre taught me life skills and referred me to the Westview Clinic for drugs rehabilitation in 2017”.

“I was supposed to spend only six (6) weeks, but I ended up staying for 18 months and I do not regret it. After I came back from the rehabilitation centre, a good Samaritan had faith in me and donated R10 000 to establish a food business. Ever since, I have never looked back, and I now own a butchery. I am grateful to the department for funding NPOs like West Rand Youth Development Centre; they instil hope and empower communities”, Sekgope said.

Gauteng Department of Social Development continues to empower youth to be agents of change in various communities.