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Zambela youth hope voting will bring in a new administration to end their hardships

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Young people in Zamdela in Sasolburg in the Free State are forced to contend with the scourges of high unemployment, a high crime rate and substance abuse.

The area is part of the Metsimaholo Local Municipality which is governed by a shaky five-party coalition.

Metsimaholo also encompasses Deneysville and Oranjeville.

Despite the challenges, some youths are fighting to rise above the situation.

Venturing into business

It’s been five years since 29-year-old Thato Tsoai ventured into the food business.

The idea came to fruition after he completed his matric almost eight years ago.

Just like many other young people, Tsoai was unemployed. He started his first food business in Mpumalanga and then relocated to Sasolburg this year.

“The reason that motivated me to start a business, first of all at school I did business studies and I’m able to communicate well with people and for the mere fact that I was unemployed, I saw that the best thing to do rather than go and steal is to start something small that can possibly maybe one day grow into something big,” says Tsoai.

Frustrations

Tsoai has faced some tough challenges in his business.

Major challenges at his business premises are lack of water and electricity supply. He says he needs a container to house his business properly.

Other young people living in Zamdela are equally frustrated.

“I want to see many young people going back to school. Stop using drugs because your parents are worried about you. Please go back to school, go to sports and stop making your parents be worried about you. You old enough; take responsibility,” says one young person.

Another youth in Zamdela says, “As young people, we are facing challenges which are gangsterism and drugs, so it is corrupting the environment which is not right. As we want to vote, we want to the see correct by people at the top, they have to make sure that the environment is safe, and the police must also work.”

“I would like to say the councillor of Ward seven…must fight for our youth in Ward seven. There are many challenges that we are facing here, we are not working, we are smoking, we are drinking alcohol because we are jobless,” says another frustrated young person.

With elections on Monday, young people hope that the new administration will bring a lasting solution to their endless problems.

Last year, the Metsimaholo Local Municipality was placed under administration.

The municipality has been dogged by political infighting and lapses in governance, as outlined in the video below: 

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