MINISTER of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu has warned young people to use their R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD grant) wisely by starting their own businesses.
Zulu said this while addressing young people during a Youth Small, Micro, Medium Enterprises event organised by Lulwazi Lwethu in Lusaka in Nyanga, Cape Town on Saturday, 24 June.
Zulu said as a former minister of small, micro and medium enterprises she wanted to urge young people build their own businesses and not rely on grants.
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She said although young people were getting the R350 grant, the future of such a grant was uncertain. She said the government was only obligated to ensure sustainable grants for the elderly, people living with disabilities and children.
She said the R350 SRD grant depended on the availability of money in government coffers.
“Grants such as the R350 are very difficult to maintain and sustain because when the economy is not doing well, we will not have money for such grants. It is in such situations whereby the minister of finance will tell me that ‘Minister Zulu, I don’t have the R350’ money. It will be difficult for me to insist that we should find the money when the economy is not doing well,” said Zulu.
She praised the young people who had started their businesses using the grant.
“There are people who are starting their businesses using the R350 grant. I’m saying to SEFA and SEDA, once these people start their businesses, it’s your job to come and support them,” she said.
Lulwazi Lwethu founder, Lulu Nongogo, said as part of Youth Month, she decided to bring information on how to start businesses to young people.
“Many businesses in the townships are lacking in the area of compliance. Now we are bringing information close to them whereby we will assist them from registration, tax clearance, marketing, and how to use social media platforms to further their business,” said Nongogo.
Onke Stuurnman (34) said he ran a plumbing company but struggled to get tenders.
“After getting this information, maybe I will be able to apply for tenders from the government. I have also realised that there are areas that I was not complying with. I will do everything. The session we attended today was powerful,” he said.
