A group of determined young entrepreneurs and unemployed individuals walked for 14 hours a day over a week, braving scorching heat and bruised feet, to deliver a message to Mpumalanga’s premier. Their 100-kilometer journey from KwaMhlanga to Mbombela aimed to highlight the struggles faced by young business owners, including restrictive age limits on funding and high unemployment.
Roger Maela a 34-year-old casket business owner, shared his frustrations: “We suffer because the government doesn’t take us seriously. When we seek help, they demand endless documents, making it impossible to get support.” The group hopes their direct approach will push the premier to address their concerns.
Meanwhile, in a separate protest, residents stormed their local municipality offices, accusing officials of nepotism and corruption. They claim job opportunities are unfairly given to outsiders, leaving locals with only temporary work.
Municipality officials denied the allegations, stating hiring processes were still ongoing and open to all qualified candidates. However, dissatisfied residents vowed to return if their demands for transparency are not met.
