On 12 November 2021, the Local Enterprises Authority (LEA) handed over machinery, office equipment and branding assets valued at more than P1 million to Boravast Trust, a community empowerment organisation, during a ceremony held in Bokspits under the theme “Community Development Through Commercialisation.”
LEA partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Kgalagadi Local Authorities in ensuring the success of this project.
The Boravast Trust oversees a collective project which spans four villages in the Kgalagadi District, namely Bokspits, Rapalspan, Vaalhoek and Struizendam. The project will see locals in the region harvest and process Sexanana (Prosopis Mesquite), an invasive tree species from which various end-products such as livestock feed & charcoal are produced.
Said the Chief Executive Officer of LEA, Dr Racious Moatshe, at the event: “We are gathered here as part of our community entrepreneurship development to hand over the project equipment to Boravast Trust to enable them to produce and run commercially.”
Among the assets received by the Trust from LEA were two trailers, heavy duty fodder processors, four chain saws, a trailer-mounted log cutter, a 2-tonne cargo delivery trailer and office furniture. The LEA Tsabong team is currently assisting the Trust with barcoding to get the product into retailers such as Choppies, Shoppers and Liquorama in Tsabong.
Also present at the ceremony was the Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Molebatsi Shimane Molebatsi. Before embarking on the trip to Bokspits for the handover, the media was given a tour of other LEA clients in Tsabong including, Barati Ntau, owner of Lovely Bakery, which is the main supplier of baked goods in the area, including supplying bread to the local school.
Another prospering business there is owned by Maggie Stoffel, the multi-talented owner of Dikukama Hotel. Stoffel is a tailor, interior designer and manager all rolled into one. She is currently in the process of completing her second property, a hotel which will along with accommodation offer conferencing facilities and other amenities to ensure that patrons enjoy a pleasant and convenient stay.
Both these businesses have received from LEA interventions, including Business Development, Enterprise Development Training, Record Keeping Training, and Financial Viability Tool to be able to monitor and project profitability, market access linkages with buyers, market access and participation in trade exhibitions, business plan development for expansion, and export awareness workshops.
