City of Matlosana Strengthens Skills and Supports Local Enterprises
- Karen Scheepers
- Aug 20
- 2 min read
The City of Matlosana has taken significant steps toward advancing local economic development through two major initiatives: the graduation of water management professionals and the empowerment of informal traders.
Graduation Ceremony for Water and Wastewater Programs
In partnership with Mbuso Management Solutions, the municipality celebrated the graduation of participants who successfully completed the Water and Wastewater Reticulation Services and Water and Wastewater Treatment programs at NQF Level 5.
Delivering the keynote address, MMC for Local Economic Development, Cllr. Wesley Kgang, underscored the vital importance of water, describing it as “the foundation of life.”
He acknowledged the challenges of ensuring universal access to clean water, urging both communities and professionals to preserve and manage water resources responsibly.
Mbuso Management Solutions’ Managing Director, Mr. Daddy Khusela, praised the graduates for their dedication, calling the achievement a milestone in the ongoing effort to address water challenges across communities. He expressed confidence that the newly qualified professionals will play a crucial role in ensuring sustainable water management.
Empowering Informal Traders
Alongside the graduation, the City of Matlosana, in collaboration with the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA) and Nalthorah Service Providers, rolled out an empowerment programme for small-scale businesses. The initiative combined training, certification, and stock grants to boost local entrepreneurs.
Approximately 50 participants completed training in basic retail practices and received certificates of competence. Of these, 25 informal traders were each awarded start-up stock valued at R3,000, while formal traders received stock worth R5,000.
The Executive Mayor, Cllr. Fikile Mahlophe, attended the event alongside Cllr. Wesley Kgang. Addressing participants, the Mayor stressed that adherence to municipal by-laws is essential for the sustainability and growth of businesses.
Commitment to Local Growth
Through these initiatives, the City of Matlosana has reinforced its commitment to strengthening skills, creating opportunities, and supporting livelihoods. The municipality continues to prioritise both professional capacity-building and entrepreneurship as cornerstones of its local economic development strategy.
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