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FIVE MTN- SEDCO CIJA NGEBHIZINISI WINNERS AWARDED E10 000 EACH

By KHETSIWE KHUMALO | 2020-06-30

Five Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) walked away with E10 000 each after winning in the second edition of the MTN-SEDCO Cija Ngebhizinisi competition.

The companies were awarded during an event held at the SEDCO headquarters in Mbabane yesterday. The awardceremony was also aired live on the company’s Facebook page.

Winners of the competition were Primrose Nkambule, Mpendulo Dlamini, Delisile Dlamini, Nozipho Dlamini and Marcia Vilane.

Making his remarks during the event, SEDCO CEO Dorrington Matiwane said the competition received a total of 54 applications, which indicated a 24% increase from the previous year.

“A total of 29 applicants were visited by the adjudication panel with Hhohho having the highest number of qualified applicants. The criteria focused on the overview of the business and its future plans, compliance, customer satisfaction, record keeping and health and safety,” said the CEO.

Matiwane congratulated the participants who were also selected to attend the in-house entrepreneurship training.

Matiwane revealed that the MTN-SEDCO CIJA Ngebhizinisi programme has significantly improved in its efforts to ensure access to basic entrepreneurship training.

“The programme has seen us interacting with approximately 27 000 people within the 19 weeks across our various media platforms such as Facebook, Whatsapp and by telephone. Conducting the programme on radio and in Siswati also ensured the inclusion of marginalised groups who have all along been excluded by the language barrier and mode of delivery,” said Matiwane.

Matiwane further added that in the wake of COVID-19, SEDCO, in collaboration with the SME unit in the ministry of commerce, industry and trade conducted a survey to establish the impact if Covid-19 on SME’s in the country. He said this would be used to determine the assistance required to survive the negative ramifications of the containment measures enacted to curb the spread of the virus.

“Most importantly, it is envisaged that the study findings will inform the establishment of effective policy interventions aimed at resuscitating the SME sector,” he said.

Also congratulating the winners was MTN Foundation Chairperson, Busisiwe Simelane who said despite times being difficult for everyone, participants made it a priority to enter the competition.

“Congratulations to the winners and would like to also encourage those that didn’t win to keep pushing for better results,” she said.

Simelane added that the programme was created after recognising a huge youth unemployment gap in the country and worldwide.

She noted that the SME area of business was not given much attention hence the need for this competition. “The successful implementation could not have been a success without us partnering with SEDCO.

Sole traders

1. Nozipho Dlamini- Moving forward

2. Mpendulo Dlamini- Mlangeni Mobile

3. Primrose Nkambule- GP FireCo

4. Delisile Dlamini-Lokuhle Construction

5. Marcia Vilane- Explosive Creatives

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